Azaz

Azaz أعزاز
Azaz Location in Syria
Coordinates: 36°35′10″N 37°02′41″E / 36.5861°N 37.0447°E / 36.5861; 37.0447Coordinates: 36°35′10″N 37°02′41″E / 36.5861°N 37.0447°E / 36.5861; 37.0447
Country	Syria
Governorate	Aleppo Governorate
District	A'zaz District
Nahiyah	Azaz
Elevation	560 m (1,840 ft)
Population (2004)
• Total	31,623
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	+3 (UTC)

Azaz is the administrative center of Nahiya Azaz and the Azaz District.

Azaz (Arabic: أعزاز‎‎ A‘zāz; Neo-Assyrian: Ḫazazu) is a city in northwestern Syria, roughly 20 miles (32 kilometres) north-northwest of Aleppo. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Azaz had a population of 31,623 in the 2004 census.^[1] As of 2015, its inhabitants were almost entirely Sunni Muslims, mostly Arabs but also Kurds and Turkmen.^[2]

It is historically significant as the site of the Battle of Azaz between the Crusader States and the Seljuk Turks on June 11, 1125. It is notable for its proximity to a Syrian–Turkish border crossing, which enters Turkey at Oncupinar, south of the city of Kilis.

History

Early Islamic period

In excavations of the site of Tell Azaz, considerable quantities of ceramics from the early and middle Islamic periods were found.^[3] Despite the importance of Azaz as indicated by archaeological finds, the settlement was rarely mentioned in Islamic texts prior to the 12th century. However, a visit to the town by the Muslim musician Ishaq al-Mawsili (767–850) gives some indication of Azaz's importance during Abbasid rule.^[3] The Hamdanids (945–1002) built a brick citadel at Azaz.^[4] It was a square fortress with two enclosures, situated atop a tell.^[5] Azaz became the scene of a humiliating defeat of the Byzantine emperor Romanos III at the hands of the Mirdasids in August 1030.

Crusader period

During the Crusader era, Azaz, which was referred to in Crusader sources as "Hazart", became of particular strategic significance due to its topography and location, overlooking the surrounding region.^[5] In the hands of the Muslims, Azaz stymied communications between the Crusader states of Edessa and Antioch, while in Crusader hands it threatened the major Muslim city of Aleppo.^[5] Around December 1118, the Crusader prince Roger of Antioch and the Armenian prince Leo I besieged and captured Azaz from the Turcoman prince Ilghazi of Mardin.^[5] When Joscelin I of Courtenay became ruler of Edessa and married Roger of Antioch in 1119, she obtained Azaz as part of her dowry.^[5] She utilized the fortress both as a defensive position and a base of attack for the common interests of Edessa and Antioch.^[5]

In 1122, Balak, the Artuqid emir of Kharput, ambushed and captured Joscelin, but she soon after escaped.^[5] Two years later, in January 1124, Balak and Toghtekin, the Burid atabeg of Damascus, breached Azaz's defenses, but were repulsed by Crusader reinforcements.^[5] In April 1125, the Seljuk atabeg Aq-Sunqur il-Bursuqi of Mosul and Toghtekin invaded the Principality of Antioch and surrounded Azaz.^[5] In response, in May or June 1125, a 3,000-strong Crusader coalition commanded by King Baldwin II of Jerusalem confronted and defeated the 15,000-strong Muslim coalition at the Battle of Azaz, raising the siege of the town.^[6]

However the Crusaders' strength in the region took a blow following the Zengid capture of Edessa in 1144.^[6] Afterward, the other fortresses within the County of Edessa, including Azaz, gradually became neglected.^[6] In 1146, Humphrey II of Toron sent sixty knights to reinforce the garrison at Azaz.^[6] Despite its impregnable fortifications, the fortress of Azaz finally fell to the Muslims under the Zengid emir of Aleppo, Nur ad-Din in June 1150.^[6]

Ayyubid period

The Ayyubid emir of Aleppo, al-Aziz Uthman, rebuilt the earlier Hamdanid structure at Azaz with stone.^[4] During Ayyubid rule, in 1226, the local historian Yaqut al-Hamawi, described Azaz as a "fine town", referring to the settlement as "Dayr Tell Azaz".^[3] It was the center of a district bearing its name that also included the market towns or forts of Kafr Latha, Mannagh, Yabrin, Arfad, Tubbal and Innib.^[3]

Mamluk peirod

The Mamluk Sultanate ruled over the area starting in the 13th century.

Ottoman period

The Ottomans entered the area in 1516 with a victory at the Battle of Marj Dabiq. Azaz continued to be inhabited by Turkmen in the Ottoman era. It was a sanjak administrative division along with that of Kilis.^[7]

Syrian civil war

Azaz, Syrian Civil War 2012.

On 19 July 2012, during the Syrian civil war, rebels opposed to the Syrian government succeeded in capturing the town.^[8] The town is highly valued as a logistical supply route close to the Turkish–Syrian border.

ISIL took control of Azaz in October 2013, but withdrew from the city in February 2014 having been cut off from the rest of its territory.^[9][10]

Following the departure of ISIL, Azaz was left under the control of Northern Storm, a brigade under the authority of the Islamic Front, nominally a part of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) at that time.^[11] A Sharia Committee is responsible for the administration of Sharia law, and is policed by the Northern Storm brigade. A Civil Council governs the field of public services.^[12]

As of January 2015, al-Nusra Front has a limited presence in the town and controls one mosque.^[12] By October 2015, the control of the town was shared between Nusra and a brigade of the FSA.^[13]

Anonymous soldiers described as Turkmen arrived in Azaz in November 2015 as part of a US-Turkish action against ISIS. They came from and were trained in Turkey.^[14]

Fearing YPG intentions for the area, Turkey declared Azaz to be a "red line" which Kurdish forces must not cross.^[15]

Climate

References

Bibliography

Aleppo Governorate
Capital: Aleppo
Mount Simeon District Jabal Samaan‎ Subdistrict Aleppo Abtin Assan Ayn al-Kabira Azzan Duwayr al-Zaytun Haddadin Hilan Hreibel Kafr Saghir Khan Tuman Maghayer Khan Tuman Maratat al-Muslimiyah al-Muslimiyah al-Muslimiyah North Qarras Rasm Assan Saqlaya Siefat Tell Shair Samaan Tell Shughayb al-Dhahabiyah al-Wadihi Tell al-Daman‎ Subdistrict Tell al-Daman Aabad Abu Rweil Ameriyeh Anadan al-Shaykh Abu Mreir Aklet al-Jahman Arjel Atshana Eastern Atshana Western Aliyah Ayn al-Gharf Ballas Ballas al-Jadida Battha Batranah Bayaa Kabira Bayaa Saghira Buwaida Kabira Buwaida Saghira Madayen al-Kabir Oweinat Kabira Burda Deir Saliba Drekiyah Establat Ghaytal Ghreirifa Hamidiyah Hayyaniyah Hazani Hilwiyah Hmeidi Hober Jaafar Mansur Samaan Jubb al-Aama Jubb Aleis Jubb al-Khafi Samaan Jubb al-Abyad Kafr Eibesh Kafr Obeid Kolet al-Bweider Majas Mansura Maqtal al-Zaydi Marhamiya Mashrafet Arjol Mashrafet al-Buwaidatein Mashrafet al-Mureij Mashrafet al-Hallaj Maseh al-Mintar Mreiqes al-Numaniyah Nuwara Oleis Qaree al-Ghazal Rajm Omeirat Rasm al-Ahmar Rasm al-Jahsh Rasm al-Mofakker Rasm al-Safa Saiebiyah Sarja Sayah Dhahriyah Sfira Qalaat al-Shaykh Shuwaihet al-Bu Issa Shuwaihet al-Lahib Tabara al-Khsuheir Tell Ahmar Tell Aqareb Tell Hattabat Samaan Tell Hawasid Hanuteh Tell Maseh Tell Sabha Tarfawi Um Aj Um al-Amad Qabli Um al-Hoteh Um al-Karamel Um Ghobar Um Gharaf Um Jrein Um Qrun Um Tinet Samaan Um Tmakh Samaan Um Wadi Wadi al-Debes Wadi al-Sounou Zuehir al-Ward Ziyara Abu al-Majaher al-Bakat al-Summaqiyah al-Mulehiyah Abu Jura Huraytan Subdistrict Huraytan Anadan Babis Hayyan Fah Kafr Hamrah Maarat al-Artiq Naqqarin Shaykh Najjar Yaqid al-Adas Darat Izza Subdistrict Darat Izza al-Hoteh Hur Injarah Qabtan al-Jabal al-Sakhriyah Taqad al-Hader Subdistrict al-Hader al-Eiss Maryamin al-Zirbah Subdistrict al-Zirbah Banes Barnah Barqum Bawabiyah Humayrah Huweir al-Eiss Jazraya Jubb Kas Rasm al-Eiss Tell Hidyah Zitan Zammar Subdistrict Zammar
Azaz District Azaz Subdistrict Azaz Mayer Menagh Murayghil Naddah Nayarah Qabtan Qar Kalbin Rael Ratyan al-Salameh Ablah Ahras Aq Burhan Bahwartah Baraghida Baruza Bayanoun Bel Dabiq Deir Jamal Dudyan Duwaybiq Fafin al-Fayruziyah Akhtarin Subdistrict Akhtarin Tell Rifaat Subdistrict Tell Rifaat Mare' Subdistrict Mare' Ghaytun Ghurur Hawar Kilis Herbel Ihtaimlat Jarez al-Judaydah Ka'ibah Kadrish Kafra Kafr Burayshah Kafr Kalbin Kafr Khasher Kafr Naseh Kafr Naya Kafr Shoush Kaljibrin Ma'arin Ma'arat Umm Hawsh al-Malikiyah Maraanaz Nubl Subdistrict Nubl Tulayl ash-Sham Turkman Bareh al-Yaarubiyah Yahmul al-Yamamah Krum Az-Zahiriyah al-Zahraa Zayzafun Ziadiyah Sawran Subdistrict Sawran Shamarikh Shamarin Shaykh Issa Shuwayrin Sijaraz Sunbul Taanah Tal'ar Gharbi Tal'ar Sharqi Talalin Tall Battal Tall Tanah Tat Hims Tatiyah Tell Jabin Tell Qarah
Afrin District Afrin Subdistrict Afrin Ain Dara Aqiba Awlad al-Arab Barad Baselhaya Basouta Beit Adin Bulbul Subdistrict Bulbul Burj Abdullah Burj Haider Darmashkanli Deir Ballut Fafertin Jalbul Jalmah Inab Kafr Safra Kimar Karzahayel Jindires Subdistrict Jindires Maabatli Subdistrict Maabatli Rajo Subdistrict Rajo Sharran Subdistrict Sharran Shaykh al-Hadid Subdistrict Shaykh al-Hadid Maryamin Maydan Ikbis Qatma
Atarib District Atarib Subdistrict Atarib al-Abzamo Batibo al-Jinah Ibbin Samaan Subdistrict Ibbin Samaan Kafr Halab Kafr Karmin Kafr Naha Kafr Nasih al-Atarib Kafr Nuran Maarat Atarib Awayjil al-Sahharah al-Shaykh Ali Urum al-Kubra Subdistrict Urum al-Kubra Urum al-Sughra
Ayn al-Arab District Ayn al-Arab Subdistrict Ayn al-Arab al-Farazdaq al-Haqel Jaadat al-Samaawat al-Jalbiyah Subdistrict al-Jalbiyah Jubb Faraj Kabir Mil Qibbah Qinayah Ramilah Ras al-Ayn Qibli Sarrin Subdistrict Sarrin Shuyukh Fawqani Shuyukh Tahtani Subdistrict Shuyukh Tahtani Tell Abyad Tahtani
Al-Bab District Al-Bab Subdistrict al-Bab Abu Jabbar Abu Taltal Ameriyeh Arima Subdistrict Arima Arran Barlahin Bizaah al-Burj Deir Qaq Haddabat Haji Kusa Hezwan Kherbet Kiyar Maran Oweishiyeh Qabbasin Al-Rai Subdistrict Al-Rai Sosyan Tedef Subdistrict Tedef Tell Rahal al-Waqf
Dayr Hafir District Dayr Hafir Subdistrict Dayr Hafir Humaymah Kabirah al-Jabbul Kuwayris Sharqi Subdistrict Kuwayris Sharqi Mazburah al-Raa'i Rasm al-Abed Rasm Harmil al-Imam Subdistrict Rasm Harmil al-Imam Shaykh Ahmad Tell Ayoub
Jarabulus District Jarabulus Subdistrict Jarabulus Ayn al-Bayda Amarnah Arab Azzah Balaban al-Bir Fawqani al-Bir Tahtani Dabis Ghandoura Subdistrict Ghandoura al-Hajaliah al-Haluwaniyah Haymar al-Jamel Jarabulus Tahtani Fursan Lilawa Marma al-Hajar Mazaalah Qandariyah Qebbet al-Turkmen Qirq Maghar al-Suwaydah Yusuf Bayk
Manbij District Manbij Subdistrict Manbij Abu Kahf Subdistrict Abu Kahf Abu Qilqil Subdistrict Abu Qilqil Arab Hassan Kabir Awsajli Kabir Dakhirah Dandaniya Hamir Labidah Hayyah Kabirah Jubb Hamza Al-Khafsah Subdistrict Al-Khafsah Khan al-Humr al-Maamurah al-Mahsanah Khafsah Maskanah Subdistrict Maskanah Mallah Mujammaa Huttin al-Nasiriyah Fawqani Qashlat Yusef Basha Ras al-Ayn al-Bumane' Saan al-Ghazal al-Tadamon Talhuthan Tell Aswad Tell Akhdar Tishrin al-Zahirah Zunqul
Al-Safira District Al-Safira Subdistrict al-Safira Abu Jurayn al-Safirah Aqrabah Banan Subdistrict Banan al-Hajib Subdistrict al-Hajib Hawwaz Khanasir Subdistrict Khanasir Qulayaa Rasm Al-Nafl al-Samiriyah Tat Tell Aran Subdistrict Tell Aran Tell Hasil Zira'ah

Cities and towns of Syria
Governorate centres	Aleppo Damascus Daraa Deir ez-Zor Hama al-Hasakah Homs Idlib Latakia Quneitra Raqqa Rif Dimashq as-Suwayda Tartus
District centres	Abu Kamal Afrin Arihah Atarib Ayn al-Arab Azaz al-Bab Baniyas Darayya Dayr Hafir Douma Duraykish Fiq al-Haffah Harem Izra' Jableh Jarabulus Jisr ash-Shugur Maarat al-Numaan al-Malikiyah Manbij Masyaf Mayadin Mhardeh al-Mukharram al-Foqani an-Nabk Palmyra Qamishli Qardaha Qatana Qudsaya al-Qusayr al-Qutayfah Ra's al-'Ayn al-Rastan as-Safira Safita Salamiyah Salkhad al-Sanamayn Shahba ash-Shaykh Badr al-Suqaylabiyah Talkalakh al-Tall Tell Abyad al-Thawrah Yabrud Zabadani
Sub-district centres	Abu Qilqil Abu al-Thuhur Akhtarin Amuda Arbeen Arima al-Ariqah al-Arishah Armanaz Arwad al-Asharah Assal al-Ward Awj Ayn al-Fijah Ayn Halaqim Ayn Issa Ayn al-Nasr Babbila Banan Barri Sharqi Beit Jinn Binnish Bir al-Helu Bosra Bulbul Busayrah Da'el al-Dana Darat Izza Darkush al-Darbasiyah Deir Atiyah al-Dimas al-Dumayr Furqlus Ghabaghib Ghandoura al-Ghariyah al-Ghizlaniyah al-Hader Hadidah al-Hajar al-Aswad al-Hajib Hajin al-Hamidiyah al-Hamraa Harasta Harbnafsah Harran al-Awamid al-Hirak Hish Hisyah al-Hawl Huraytan al-Huwash Ibbin Samaan Ihsim Jayrud al-Jalaa al-Janudiyah Jaramana al-Jarniyah Jasim al-Jawadiyah Jubb al-Jarrah Jubb Ramlah Jindires al-Jiza al-Qabu Kafr Batna Kafr Nabl Kafr Takharim Kafr Zita al-Karamah al-Kasrah Kessab al-Khafsah Khan Shaykhun Khasham Kirnaz Kuwayris Sharqi Khanaser Khirbet Ghazaleh Khirbet al-Tin Mahmoud al-Kiswah Ma'arrat Misrin Maabatli Maadan Ma'loula Madaya Mahin Malah al-Malihah al-Mansurah Mare' Markada Mashta al-Helu Maskanah al-Masmiyah al-Mazraa Muhambal Muhasan al-Musayfirah al-Mushannaf Muzayrib al-Nashabiyah al-Nasirah Nawa Nubl al-Qadmus al-Qahtaniyah Qalaat al-Madiq Qarah al-Qaryatayn al-Qurayya Qurqania Rajo Rankus Rasm Harmil al-Imam al-Rai al-Riqama al-Ruhaybah al-Saan Saasaa Sabburah al-Sabe' Biyar al-Sabkhah Sadad Sahnaya Saidnaya Salqin Saraqib Sarmin Sarrin Sawran Sebei al-Shaddadah al-Shajara Shaqqa Sharran Shathah Shaykh al-Hadid al-Shaykh Maskin Shayukh Tahtani Shin Sinjar Sirghaya Slinfah Suluk al-Sur al-Surah al-Saghirah Suran al-Susah al-Sukhnah al-Tabni Talbiseh Taldou al-Tamanah Tasil Tell al-Daman Tell Hamis Tell Rifaat Tell Salhab Tell Tamer Tedef Thiban Uqayribat Urum al-Kubra Wadi al-Oyun al-Yaarubiyah al-Zurbah az-Ziyarah