The PYD's Separatist Project

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The PYD's Separatist Project The PYD’s Separatist Project in the Syrian Euphrates Region Abdullah Al-Najjar Political research Hermon Center for Contemporary Studies is a non-profit organization, focused mainly on producing studies and research on the Syrian situation, implementing and managing projects, activities and initiatives to rebuild Syria on the foundations of democracy, freedom, social justice, human rights, human dignity and equal citizenship values. For Contacts: e-mail: [email protected] Harmoon Center For Contemporary Studies The PYD’s Separatist Project in the Syrian Euphrates Region January 2020 Abdullah Al-Najjar Authors This study was conducted by Abdullah Al-Najjar, with the help of former col- leagues and acquaintances who assisted him in collecting and verifying the infor- mation. Three of them had submitted three background papers: two on education, and one on the oil issue. In light of the positions of these individuals where they live, we will not be disclosing their names, but would like to thank them very much. Abdullah Al-Najjar is a former officer at the Political Security Directorate, with a degree in law. He worked in Hasakeh Province for 12 years, including nine and a half years in Qamishli district, as an assistant and head of the Qamishli police station, and head of the Amuda police station. He defected from the Political Se- curity Directorate in 2012 with the rank of major. He currently works in the field of studies and research related to east of the Euphrates, and on issues related to security and the military. Harmoon Center For Contemporary Studies Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................................5 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................15 Foreword ...........................................................................................................................................................15 Background on the Kurdish issue in Syria: ......................................................................................................15 Background on the relationship between the Assad regime and the PKK from the 1980’s until 1998 and the transformation after 2010: ......................................................................................................................................21 CHAPTER II: ALLIANCE BETWEEN SYRIAN REGIME AND PYD ................................23 On Syria’s PYD and Turkey’s PPK: .................................................................................................................23 Impact of PKK’s sectarian tendencies and the Alawite issue in Turkey ..........................................................26 How the regime brought the PYD to Syria and used it to suppress the uprising: ............................................33 PDY’s role in the regime’s strategy to suppress the uprising: ...........................................................................35 The regime’s support for the PYD: ..................................................................................................................36 The so-called “July 19 Revolution”: ................................................................................................................37 The relationship between the regime and the PYD and their changing roles: .................................................39 PYD’s role in controlling Kurdish areas and preventing them from participating in the uprising: .................43 The Kurds’ ambiguous position on the uprising: .............................................................................................43 CHAPTER III: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE US-PYD RELATIONSHIP ........................46 US attempts with the FSA: ...............................................................................................................................46 The US’s reliance on the YPG: ........................................................................................................................48 Was the Ayn al-Arab/Kobane battle a conspiracy? ..........................................................................................51 The evolution of US support after the Ayn al-Arab/Kobane battle: .................................................................53 The establishment of the SDF and the kickoff of limitless support: ................................................................54 Military cooperation only or was politics at play? ...........................................................................................56 What happened after President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from Syria? .......................................61 Linking east and west of the Euphrates: ...........................................................................................................63 What does the PYD want? ...............................................................................................................................64 The US’s role in negotiations between the regime and the Kurdish self-administration: ................................65 Turkey’s central position: .................................................................................................................................66 Why the US relied on the SDF: ........................................................................................................................67 Notes and outcomes: ........................................................................................................................................69 Harmoon Center For Contemporary Studies CHAPTER IV: THE DEMOGRAPHIS STATUS OF EAST OF THE EUPHRATES .............71 The national and religious distribution of the population of east of the Euphrates: ........................................71 Hasakeh province: ............................................................................................................................................72 East of the Euphrates population: .....................................................................................................................75 The real population of east of the Euphrates in 2010: ......................................................................................77 Displaced Syrians in the Kurdistan region: ......................................................................................................78 Current population of east of the Euphrates: ....................................................................................................78 The PYD’s policies towards residents: Displacement, and preventing residents from returning to their areas: 80 The practice of displacement: ..........................................................................................................................80 Preventing residents from returning: ................................................................................................................83 CHAPTER V: THE MILITARY SITUATION .........................................................................85 Composition of the so-called “Syrian Democratic Forces”: .............................................................................85 Estimated SDF number of members .................................................................................................................86 Our approximate estimates of the actual numbers of the SDF troops ...............................................................90 People’s Protection Units: .................................................................................................................................91 YPG within urban areas: ...................................................................................................................................92 The police force (Asayish) ................................................................................................................................93 Al-Sanadid Forces: ...........................................................................................................................................94 The Syriac Military Council forces: ..................................................................................................................94 Number of SDF troops in Deir ez-Zor Province: ..............................................................................................95 Number SDF troops in Manbij, Raqqa and Ayn al-Arab: .................................................................................95 Total number of SDF troops: .............................................................................................................................95 Arab affiliation with SDF: .................................................................................................................................95 YPG’ death toll ..................................................................................................................................................96 SDF payroll: ......................................................................................................................................................97 Armament of SDF troops: .................................................................................................................................98 Foreign troops in the East of the Euphrates: ....................................................................................................98
Recommended publications
  • Offensive Against the Syrian City of Manbij May Be the Beginning of a Campaign to Liberate the Area Near the Syrian-Turkish Border from ISIS
    June 23, 2016 Offensive against the Syrian City of Manbij May Be the Beginning of a Campaign to Liberate the Area near the Syrian-Turkish Border from ISIS Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters at the western entrance to the city of Manbij (Fars, June 18, 2016). Overview 1. On May 31, 2016, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-dominated military alliance supported by the United States, initiated a campaign to liberate the northern Syrian city of Manbij from ISIS. Manbij lies west of the Euphrates, about 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) south of the Syrian-Turkish border. In the three weeks since the offensive began, the SDF forces, which number several thousand, captured the rural regions around Manbij, encircled the city and invaded it. According to reports, on June 19, 2016, an SDF force entered Manbij and occupied one of the key squares at the western entrance to the city. 2. The declared objective of the ground offensive is to occupy Manbij. However, the objective of the entire campaign may be to liberate the cities of Manbij, Jarabulus, Al-Bab and Al-Rai, which lie to the west of the Euphrates and are ISIS strongholds near the Turkish border. For ISIS, the loss of the area is liable to be a severe blow to its logistic links between the outside world and the centers of its control in eastern Syria (Al-Raqqah), Iraq (Mosul). Moreover, the loss of the region will further 112-16 112-16 2 2 weaken ISIS's standing in northern Syria and strengthen the military-political position and image of the Kurdish forces leading the anti-ISIS ground offensive.
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin De Liaison Et D'information
    INSTITUT KUDE RPARD IS E Bulletin de liaison et d’information N°364 JUILLET 2015 La publication de ce Bulletin bénéficie de subventions du Ministère français des Affaires étrangères (DGCID) et du Fonds d’action et de soutien pour l’intégration et la lutte contre les discriminations (FASILD) ————— Ce bulletin paraît en français et anglais Prix au numéro : France: 6 € — Etranger : 7,5 € Abonnement annuel (12 numéros) France : 60 € — Etranger : 75 € Périodique mensuel Directeur de la publication : Mohamad HASSAN Numéro de la Commission Paritaire : 659 13 A.S. ISBN 0761 1285 INSTITUT KURDE, 106, rue La Fayette - 75010 PARIS Tél. : 01- 48 24 64 64 - Fax : 01- 48 24 64 66 www.fikp.org E-mail: [email protected] Bulletin de liaison et d’information de l’Institut kurde de Paris N° 364 juillet 2015 • TURQUIE : VERS LA FIN DU PROCESSUS DU PAIX ? • SYRIE : LES KURDES FONT RECULER LE DAESH • KURDISTAN : POINT SUR LA GUERRE CONTRE LE DAESH • PARIS : MORT DU PEINTRE REMZI • CULTURE : LECTURES POUR L’ÉTÉ TURQUIE : VERS LA FIN DU PROCESSUS DU PAIX ? près le succès électoral GAP) élaboré dans les années Mais le projet du GAP ne datant du HDP, en juin der - 1970, prévoit la construction de pas d’hier, la déclaration du A nier, la situation sécuri - 22 barrages sur les bassins du KCK envisageant de reprendre taire au Kurdistan de Tigre et de l’ Euphrate , afin d’irri - les combats si d’autres barrages Turquie s’est dégradée guer 1,7 million d’hectares de étaient construits, doit plutôt être avec une telle violence que le terres et de fournir 746 MW four - considérée comme une réaction processus de paix initié par nis par 19 centrales hydroélec - de « l’aile dure » du PKK, cher - Öcalan et l’AKP en mars 2013 a triques .
    [Show full text]
  • Télécharger Le COI Focus
    COMMISSARIAT GÉNÉRAL AUX RÉFUGIÉS ET AUX APATRIDES COI Focus LIBAN La situation sécuritaire 7 août 2018 (Mise à jour) Cedoca Langue du document original : néerlandais DISCLAIMER: Ce document COI a été rédigé par le Centre de documentation et de This COI-product has been written by Cedoca, the Documentation and recherches (Cedoca) du CGRA en vue de fournir des informations pour le Research Department of the CGRS, and it provides information for the traitement des demandes d’asile individuelles. Il ne traduit aucune politique processing of individual asylum applications. The document does not contain ni n’exprime aucune opinion et ne prétend pas apporter de réponse définitive policy guidelines or opinions and does not pass judgment on the merits of quant à la valeur d’une demande d’asile. Il a été rédigé conformément aux the asylum application. It follows the Common EU Guidelines for processing lignes directrices de l’Union européenne pour le traitement de l’information country of origin information (April 2008). sur le pays d’origine (avril 2008) et il a été rédigé conformément aux The author has based the text on a wide range of public information selected dispositions légales en vigueur. with care and with a permanent concern for crosschecking sources. Even Ce document a été élaboré sur la base d’un large éventail d’informations though the document tries to Even though the document tries to cover all the publiques soigneusement sélectionnées dans un souci permanent de relevant aspects of the subject, the text is not necessarily exhaustive. If recoupement des sources. L’auteur s’est efforcé de traiter la totalité des certain events, people or organisations are not mentioned, this does not aspects pertinents du sujet mais les analyses proposées ne visent pas mean that they did not exist.
    [Show full text]
  • Policy Notes for the Trump Notes Administration the Washington Institute for Near East Policy ■ 2018 ■ Pn55
    TRANSITION 2017 POLICYPOLICY NOTES FOR THE TRUMP NOTES ADMINISTRATION THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY ■ 2018 ■ PN55 TUNISIAN FOREIGN FIGHTERS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA AARON Y. ZELIN Tunisia should really open its embassy in Raqqa, not Damascus. That’s where its people are. —ABU KHALED, AN ISLAMIC STATE SPY1 THE PAST FEW YEARS have seen rising interest in foreign fighting as a general phenomenon and in fighters joining jihadist groups in particular. Tunisians figure disproportionately among the foreign jihadist cohort, yet their ubiquity is somewhat confounding. Why Tunisians? This study aims to bring clarity to this question by examining Tunisia’s foreign fighter networks mobilized to Syria and Iraq since 2011, when insurgencies shook those two countries amid the broader Arab Spring uprisings. ©2018 THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY ■ NO. 30 ■ JANUARY 2017 AARON Y. ZELIN Along with seeking to determine what motivated Evolution of Tunisian Participation these individuals, it endeavors to reconcile estimated in the Iraq Jihad numbers of Tunisians who actually traveled, who were killed in theater, and who returned home. The find- Although the involvement of Tunisians in foreign jihad ings are based on a wide range of sources in multiple campaigns predates the 2003 Iraq war, that conflict languages as well as data sets created by the author inspired a new generation of recruits whose effects since 2011. Another way of framing the discussion will lasted into the aftermath of the Tunisian revolution. center on Tunisians who participated in the jihad fol- These individuals fought in groups such as Abu Musab lowing the 2003 U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq: Opposition to the Government in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI)
    Country Policy and Information Note Iraq: Opposition to the government in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) Version 2.0 June 2021 Preface Purpose This note provides country of origin information (COI) and analysis of COI for use by Home Office decision makers handling particular types of protection and human rights claims (as set out in the Introduction section). It is not intended to be an exhaustive survey of a particular subject or theme. It is split into two main sections: (1) analysis and assessment of COI and other evidence; and (2) COI. These are explained in more detail below. Assessment This section analyses the evidence relevant to this note – i.e. the COI section; refugee/human rights laws and policies; and applicable caselaw – by describing this and its inter-relationships, and provides an assessment of, in general, whether one or more of the following applies: • A person is reasonably likely to face a real risk of persecution or serious harm • The general humanitarian situation is so severe as to breach Article 15(b) of European Council Directive 2004/83/EC (the Qualification Directive) / Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights as transposed in paragraph 339C and 339CA(iii) of the Immigration Rules • The security situation presents a real risk to a civilian’s life or person such that it would breach Article 15(c) of the Qualification Directive as transposed in paragraph 339C and 339CA(iv) of the Immigration Rules • A person is able to obtain protection from the state (or quasi state bodies) • A person is reasonably able to relocate within a country or territory • A claim is likely to justify granting asylum, humanitarian protection or other form of leave, and • If a claim is refused, it is likely or unlikely to be certifiable as ‘clearly unfounded’ under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume XIII, Issue 21 October 30, 2015
    VOLUME XIII, ISSUE 21 u OCTOBER 30, 2015 IN THIS ISSUE: BRIEFS ............................................................................................................................1 THE SWARM: TERRORIST INCIDENTS IN FRANCE By Timothy Holman .........................................................................................................3 CAUGHT BETWEEN RUSSIA, THE UNITED STATES AND TURKEY, Cars continue to burn SYRIAN KURDS FACE DILEMMA after a suicide attack By Wladimir van Wilgenburg .........................................................................................5 by the Islamic State in Beirut. THE EVOLUTION OF SUNNI JIHADISM IN LEBANON SINCE 2011 By Patrick Hoover .............................................................................................................8 Terrorism Monitor is a publication of The Jamestown Foundation. BANGLADESH ATTACKS SHOW INCREASING ISLAMIC STATE The Terrorism Monitor is INFLUENCE designed to be read by policy- makers and other specialists James Brandon yet be accessible to the general public. The opinions expressed within are solely those of the In the last six weeks, Bangladesh has been hit by a near-unprecedented series of Islamist authors and do not necessarily militant attacks targeting foreigners and local Shi’a Muslims. On September 28, an reflect those of The Jamestown Italian NGO worker, who was residing in the country, was shot and killed by attackers Foundation. on a moped as he was jogging near the diplomatic area of capital city Dhaka (Daily Star [Dhaka], September
    [Show full text]
  • Iraq 2019 Human Rights Report
    IRAQ 2019 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Iraq is a constitutional parliamentary republic. The 2018 parliamentary elections, while imperfect, generally met international standards of free and fair elections and led to the peaceful transition of power from Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to Adil Abd al-Mahdi. On December 1, in response to protesters’ demands for significant changes to the political system, Abd al-Mahdi submitted his resignation, which the Iraqi Council of Representatives (COR) accepted. As of December 17, Abd al-Mahdi continued to serve in a caretaker capacity while the COR worked to identify a replacement in accordance with the Iraqi constitution. Numerous domestic security forces operated throughout the country. The regular armed forces and domestic law enforcement bodies generally maintained order within the country, although some armed groups operated outside of government control. Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) consist of administratively organized forces within the Ministries of Interior and Defense, and the Counterterrorism Service. The Ministry of Interior is responsible for domestic law enforcement and maintenance of order; it oversees the Federal Police, Provincial Police, Facilities Protection Service, Civil Defense, and Department of Border Enforcement. Energy police, under the Ministry of Oil, are responsible for providing infrastructure protection. Conventional military forces under the Ministry of Defense are responsible for the defense of the country but also carry out counterterrorism and internal security operations in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior. The Counterterrorism Service reports directly to the prime minister and oversees the Counterterrorism Command, an organization that includes three brigades of special operations forces. The National Security Service (NSS) intelligence agency reports directly to the prime minister.
    [Show full text]
  • A Blood-Soaked Olive: What Is the Situation in Afrin Today? by Anthony Avice Du Buisson - 06/10/2018 01:23
    www.theregion.org A blood-soaked olive: what is the situation in Afrin today? by Anthony Avice Du Buisson - 06/10/2018 01:23 Afrin Canton in Syria’s northwest was once a haven for thousands of people fleeing the country’s civil war. Consisting of beautiful fields of olive trees scattered across the region from Rajo to Jindires, locals harvested the land and made a living on its rich soil. This changed when the region came under Turkish occupation this year. Operation Olive Branch: Under the governance of the Afrin Council – a part of the ‘Democratic Federation of Northern Syria’ (DFNS) – the region was relatively stable. The council’s members consisted of locally elected officials from a variety of backgrounds, such as Kurdish official Aldar Xelil who formerly co-headed the Movement for a Democratic Society (TEVDEM) – a political coalition of parties governing Northern Syria. Children studied in their mother tongue— Kurdish, Arabic, or Syriac— in a country where the Ba’athists once banned Kurdish education. The local Self-Defence Forces (HXP) worked in conjunction with the People’s Protection Units (YPG) to keep the area secure from existential threats such as Turkish Security forces (TSK) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) attacks. This arrangement continued until early 2018, when Turkey unleashed a full-scale military operation called ‘ Operation Olive Branch’ to oust TEVDEM from Afrin. The Turkish government views TEVDEM and its leading party, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) – listed as a terrorist organisation in Turkey. Under the pretext of defending its borders from terrorism, the Turkish government sent thousands of troops into Afrin with the assistance of forces from its allies in Idlib and its occupied Euphrates Shield territories.
    [Show full text]
  • Methodology Results Introducfion Addifional Informafion Limitafions
    THE THREAT OF ISIS PRISON BREAKS An Analysis of Camp-Adjacent Violence Before and After the October 2019 Turkish Invasion Faction Control (as of October 9, 2019) Density of Conflict (September 2-October 8, 2019) Change in Conflict Density over Both Time Periods Introduction With the Syrian conflict soon posed to enter its ninth year, the war has proven to be the greatest humanitarian and interna- tional security crisis in a generation. However, in the last year — at least in north-east of the country—there had been relative peace. The Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), along with American support, had consolidated its control of the region and all but rooted out the last remnants of ISIS. As of this fall, U.S. and SDF forces were engaged in counter-terrorism raids, ensur- ing that the now-stateless Islamic State remained suppressed. On the other side of the Syrian border sits Turkey, which considers the SDF to be directly tied to the PKK, a terrorist or- ganization that has been in conflict with the Turkish state for decades. This, combined with domestic political pressure to re- settle the millions of Syrian refugees currently residing within its borders, led Turkey to formulate a plan to invade SDF-held terri- Faction Control (as of November 16, 2019) Density of Conflict (October 9-November 16, 2019) records) while investigating potential escapes. Although over tory and establish a “buffer zone” in the border region. half of the total camps changed faction hands during the inva- The United States, eager to protect its wartime partners and to prevent the destabilizing effects of a Turkish incursion in the sion, none ended up in Turkish control.
    [Show full text]
  • Two Routes to an Impasse: Understanding Turkey's
    Two Routes to an Impasse: Understanding Turkey’s Kurdish Policy Ayşegül Aydin Cem Emrence turkey project policy paper Number 10 • December 2016 policy paper Number 10, December 2016 About CUSE The Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE) at Brookings fosters high-level U.S.-Europe- an dialogue on the changes in Europe and the global challenges that affect transatlantic relations. As an integral part of the Foreign Policy Studies Program, the Center offers independent research and recommendations for U.S. and European officials and policymakers, and it convenes seminars and public forums on policy-relevant issues. CUSE’s research program focuses on the transforma- tion of the European Union (EU); strategies for engaging the countries and regions beyond the frontiers of the EU including the Balkans, Caucasus, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine; and broader European security issues such as the future of NATO and forging common strategies on energy security. The Center also houses specific programs on France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey. About the Turkey Project Given Turkey’s geopolitical, historical and cultural significance, and the high stakes posed by the foreign policy and domestic issues it faces, Brookings launched the Turkey Project in 2004 to foster informed public consideration, high‐level private debate, and policy recommendations focusing on developments in Turkey. In this context, Brookings has collaborated with the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TUSIAD) to institute a U.S.-Turkey Forum at Brookings. The Forum organizes events in the form of conferences, sem- inars and workshops to discuss topics of relevance to U.S.-Turkish and transatlantic relations.
    [Show full text]
  • SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC North East Syria Displacement 28 October 2019
    SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC North East Syria displacement 28 October 2019 OVERVIEW 105,574 The onset of military operations in Northeast Syria by the Turkish army and allied non-state groups on 9 October has forced huge People currently displaced numbers of people to flee their homes. Around 105,574 remain displaced as of 28 October, and an additional 96,855 people were displaced and have since returned. Of those currently displaced, 98,798 are from Al Hassakeh and Ar Raqqa, and 6,776 are from 96,855 Aleppo. Displaced people are finding shelter with friends and family and also in informal settlements and collective shelters. People reported to have returned There are 69 such shelters in Al Hasakeh Governorate alone. Over 12,200 people have reportedly been displaced into neighboring Iraq. Prior to 9 October, Northeast Syria already hosted a total of 710,000 people displaced from earlier phases of the conflict, around 91,000 of whom remain in Al Hol, Areesha, Mahmoudi, Newroz and Roj camps. North East Syria Newroz Roj Jawadiyah 4 ] ] 5 1,808 Qahtaniyyeh TURKEY Darbasiyah Amuda Ain al Arab Jarablus Tell Ras Al Ain Abiad 2 To Iraq Mabroka * Menbij Al-Hasakeh Tal Hmis 12,238 Suluk 2 Ein Issa Tal Tamer Ar-Raqqa 51 Areesha Al-Hol Legend To Aleppo Camp AlKalta Alzahira Tal Alsamn Janoby Almazuneh Abu 8,475 68,577 IDP collective shelters / No. Hatash Jurneyyeh Abu Kubry Royan Khashab Informal IDP settlments Alajaj Jarwah Alrasheed Tawaiheneh Alasdyah-Alfqubour Road (M4) AlGhaba Al Fateh Rabeah Mazraat Yareb Tal AlBayah Al-Hasakeh Lake/river Mahmoudli AlSalhabeh AlKhatonyeh Population movement Alqarbia Abu Kubea 7,321 Alhamam 6,290 Empty Camp Henedeh Ath-Thawra Displaced TO Deir-ez-Zor 35k Sur 600 74k The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.
    [Show full text]
  • Syria Drought Response Plan
    SYRIA DROUGHT RESPONSE PLAN A Syrian farmer shows a photo of his tomato-producing field before the drought (June 2009) (Photo Paolo Scaliaroma, WFP / Surendra Beniwal, FAO) UNITED NATIONS SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC - Reference Map Elbistan Silvan Siirt Diyarbakir Batman Adiyaman Sivarek Kahramanmaras Kozan Kadirli TURKEY Viransehir Mardin Sanliurfa Kiziltepe Nusaybin Dayrik Zakhu Osmaniye Ceyhan Gaziantep Adana Al Qamishli Nizip Tarsus Dortyol Midan Ikbis Yahacik Kilis Tall Tamir AL HASAKAH Iskenderun A'zaz Manbij Saluq Afrin Mare Al Hasakah Tall 'Afar Reyhanli Aleppo Al Bab Sinjar Antioch Dayr Hafir Buhayrat AR RAQQA As Safirah al Asad Idlib Ar Raqqah Ash Shaddadah ALEPPO Hamrat Ariha r bu AAbubu a add D Duhuruhur Madinat a LATAKIA IDLIB Ath Thawrah h Resafa K l Ma'arat a Haffe r Ann Nu'man h Latakia a Jableh Dayr az Zawr N El Aatabe Baniyas Hama HAMA Busayrah a e S As Saiamiyah TARTU S Masyaf n DAYR AZ ZAWR a e n Ta rtus Safita a Dablan r r e Tall Kalakh t Homs i Al Hamidiyah d Tadmur E e uphrates Anah M (Palmyra) Tripoli Al Qusayr Abu Kamal Sadad Al Qa’im HOMS LEBANON Al Qaryatayn Hadithah BEYRUT An Nabk Duma Dumayr DAMASCUS Tyre DAMASCUS QQuneitrauneitra Ar Rutbah QUNEITRA Haifa Tiberias AS SUWAIDA IRAQ DAR’A Trebil ISRAELI S R A E L DDarar'a As Suwayda Irbid Jenin Mahattat al Jufur Jarash Nabulus Al Mafraq West JORDAN Bank AMMAN JERUSALEM Bayt Lahm Madaba SAUDI ARABIA Legend Elevation (meters) National capital 5,000 and above First administrative level capital 4,000 - 5,000 Populated place 3,000 - 4,000 International boundary 2,500 - 3,000 First administrative level boundary 2,000 - 2,500 1,500 - 2,000 050100150 1,000 - 1,500 800 - 1,000 km 600 - 800 Disclaimers: The designations employed and the presentation of material 400 - 600 on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal 200 - 400 status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]