Abu Kamal
Al-Bukamal
ٱلْبُوكَمَال/أَبُو كَمَال | |
---|---|
UTC+2 (EET) | |
• Summer (DST) | +3 |
Abu Kamal (
Etymology
When part of the Ottoman Empire, Abu Kamal was called kışla, pronounced locally as "qashla", which is a Turkish word for "military barracks". This name "Qashla" is still used by some inhabitants of the area, especially by elderly villagers.[citation needed] The name "Al-Bukamal" (Arabic: البوكمال) means "the family of Kamal", Kamal being the tribe that lives there, whereas the name "Abu Kamal" means "the father of Kamal".
History
In the 17th century, Abu Kamal was the seat of a
Abu Kamal became part of the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon in 1921, and the French made it the seat of a large garrison. In 1946 it became part of independent Syria. Abu Kamal's position at the border of Syria and Iraq has made it an important commercial as well as political center.
Abu Kamal is located near to
Syrian Civil War
During the
ISIL takeover
Abu Kamal was captured by
Owing to its distance from the frontline, the town would see little fighting between its capture by ISIL in 2014 and ISIL's retreat in 2017. During the lull in conflict, the town was the target of a failed opposition attack by the US-backed New Syrian Army in June 2016; the offensive lasted only a day and led to a total reversal of New Syrian Army advances to Abu Kamal.
On October 14, 2017 the Syrian Arab Army took the city of Mayadin, located 80 kilometers from Abu Kamal. After that Abu Kamal was the only large city that remained under ISIL control.[13]
On October 25, the road Al Qaim – Abu Kamal – Mayadin – Deir ez-Zor was blocked after a series of airstrikes conducted by Russian Air Force.
From 1 to 4 November 6 Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers conducted airstrikes on ISIL objects near Abu Kamal. On November 7 the SAA started operation to take Abu Kamal with support of allied forces, like the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).[citation needed]
On 9 November 2017, ISIL retreated from the town, leaving fighters dispersed in villages and small towns in the desert. Army spokesman Gen. Ali Mayhoub stated:
“Units of the 5th Assault Corps, assault groups of brigadier general Suheil and militias with support of Russian Air Force took part in liberating Abu Kamal. In the final stages of hostilities the Syrian Arab Army gained control over the Syrian-Iraqi border near the Euphrates River”.
However, on November 11 the city was recaptured by ISIL.[16] The Syrian Army and its allies retook complete control of the city by 19 November.[17] Concerns have been raised about what would happen to the village once ISIL was removed.[18]
Iranian presence
Following the elimination of ISIS, Iranian-allied militias have occupied Abu Kamal and its countryside since late 2017. Since the end of 2017, the Iraqi
Fox News reported on 4 September that a new “classified Iranian project”, the Imam Ali military base, was being constructed near Abu Kamal,[20] which was confirmed by satellite images.
On 30 September 2019, after eight years of closure, Syria and Iraq reopened the Al-Qa'im border crossing between Abu Kamal and Al-Qa'im.[21]
On 27 October 2023 the US carried out air strikes against bases near the town that it claimed were being used by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.[22] The US said that these were in response to Iranian backed attacks on its bases in the region.[22]
Climate
Abu Kamal has a
Climate data for Abu Kamal (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 13.4 (56.1) |
16.4 (61.5) |
20.8 (69.4) |
26.5 (79.7) |
32.8 (91.0) |
37.7 (99.9) |
40.6 (105.1) |
39.9 (103.8) |
36.5 (97.7) |
29.7 (85.5) |
21.5 (70.7) |
15.1 (59.2) |
27.6 (81.7) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 7.4 (45.3) |
9.9 (49.8) |
14.0 (57.2) |
19.6 (67.3) |
25.2 (77.4) |
29.2 (84.6) |
32.6 (90.7) |
31.6 (88.9) |
27.8 (82.0) |
21.6 (70.9) |
14.0 (57.2) |
8.8 (47.8) |
20.1 (68.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.1 (35.8) |
3.9 (39.0) |
7.2 (45.0) |
12.0 (53.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
20.9 (69.6) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
19.0 (66.2) |
13.8 (56.8) |
7.2 (45.0) |
3.4 (38.1) |
12.8 (55.0) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 23.2 (0.91) |
17.7 (0.70) |
24.3 (0.96) |
22.0 (0.87) |
7.5 (0.30) |
0.7 (0.03) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.01) |
7.2 (0.28) |
10.3 (0.41) |
21.9 (0.86) |
135.1 (5.32) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.3 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 3.5 | 22.0 |
Source: NOAA[23] |
Notable people
- Yusuf Zuayyin twice Prime Minister of Syria.
- Sufian Allaw Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Syria.
- Nawaf al-Fares Syrian ambassador to Iraq and defector.
- Islamic State in Iraq and the Levantleader.
Gallery
References
- ^ Population of Abu Kamal 2004-09-22
- ^ "General Census of Population and Housing 2004" (PDF) (in Arabic). Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015. Also available in English: "2004 Census Data". UN OCHA. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- ^ "20. yüzyılda Osmanlı vilayetleri" (in Turkish). Tarih ve Medeniyet. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ a b c A Handbook of Mesopotamia, Volume III: Central Mesopotamia with Southern Kurdistan and the Syrian Desert. No. 1118. Admiralty and War Office, Division of Intelligence. January 1917. p. 120.
- ^ "BBC NEWS - Middle East - 'US helicopter raid' inside Syria". 27 October 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ Al-Jazeera Archived 2008-11-06 at the Wayback Machine(in Arabic)
- ^ "The Associated Press". Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
- ^ "BBC NEWS - Middle East - Syria hits out at 'terrorist' US". 28 October 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ Solomon, Erika (Nov 17, 2012). "Syria rebels say seize airport near Iraqi border". Reuters. Retrieved Nov 17, 2012.
- ^ "Profile: Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS)". BBC News. Jan 6, 2014. Retrieved Jan 13, 2014.
- ^ "IS Takes Over Towns, Countryside in Oil-Rich Syria Province: NGO". NDTV.com. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
- ^ "Syria Iraq: The Islamic State militant group". BBC News. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- ^ "Islamic State loses al-Mayadeen in eastern Syria - military source". U.K. Reuters Editorial. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "'Isis is finished': Syrian army declares end of terror group". The Independent. 2017-11-09. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "Russia forms " Anti-Suicide Vehicles " units in Syria, Mod. - Muraselon". Muraselon. 2017-11-10. Archived from the original on 2017-12-19. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
- ^ "ISIS retakes Albukamal after Syrian Army fails to secure city". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2017-11-11. Archived from the original on 2020-04-06. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
- ^ "Latest map update of southeast Deir Ezzor". Al-Masdar News. 2017-11-19. Archived from the original on 2020-04-08. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
- ^ Gutowski, Alexandra N. (August 10, 2018). "Is the Pentagon About to Hand Iran a Major Border Crossing?". Real Clear Defense. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ Report: Five killed in missile strike on pro-Iranian militias in Syria
- ^ Airstrikes at Al Bukamal? The alleged Iranian base and the 'explosions'
- ^ "Iraq reopens Syria crossing in win for mutual ally Iran". Reuters. 30 September 2019.
- ^ a b "US fighter jets strike Syria after attacks by Iran-backed militia". reuters. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ "Abu Kamal Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
External links
- Abu Kamal (in Arabic)