al-Shaddadah ٱلشَّدَّادَة | |
|---|---|
Town | |
  al-Shaddadah Location of al-Shaddadah in Syria | |
| Coordinates:36°03′22″N40°43′49″E / 36.0561°N 40.7303°E /36.0561; 40.7303 | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Governorate | al-Hasakah |
| District | al-Hasakah |
| Subdistrict | al-Shaddadah |
| Population (2004)[1] | |
• Total | 15,806 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
| Geocode | C4446 |
Al-Shaddadah oral-Shaddadi (Arabic:ٱلشَّدَّادَة \ ٱلشَّدَّادِي,romanized: aš-Šaddādah / aš-Šaddādī) is a town in southernal-Hasakah Governorate, northeasternSyria. The town is theadministrative center of theal-Shaddadah Subdistrict, which consists of 16 municipalities. At the 2004 census, al-Shaddadah had a population of 15,806.[1]
The town's name might be derived from "Shadadu"; a governor of the district of "Suru" mentioned in the annals of the Assyrian kingAssurnasirpal II.[2] The town is situated off the western bank of theKhabur River. Nearby localities includeal-Sabaa wa Arbain to the west.
In the course of theSyrian civil war, the town was attacked byjihadist rebel forces of theal-Nusra Front in theBattle of Shaddadi (2013) and was captured three days later.[3] According to theSyrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), over 100 pro-Assad fighters and 40 al-Nusra fighters were killed, as well as dozens of petroleum workers, as a result of the battle.[4]
The town was later attacked and captured by theIslamic State (ISIS) in July 2013. Al-Shaddadah remained one of the last ISIS strongholds in the province over the next years.[5]
The town gained notoriety for its use as aslave market whereYazidi girlscaptured in the Sinjar region in August 2014 were sold assex slaves.The New York Times also reported an incident in al-Shaddadah in which aSaudi ISIS fighter raped a 12-year-old Yazidi girl.[6]
On 11 October 2015, one day after theKurdish-majorityPeople’s Protection Units (YPG) and allied groups, including theal-Sanadid Forces of the ArabShammar tribe, formed the U.S.-backedSyrian Democratic Forces (SDF), al-Sanadid leader Bandar al-Humaydi made it an "immediate priority to liberateal-Hawl and al-Shaddadah from the Islamic State” for the newly formed coalition.[7]
On 24 November 2015, it became known that ISIS militants were transferring their family members further south to theDeir ez-Zor Governorate.[8] After the SDF captured the South Hasakah Dam on 30 November, they continued their offensive southward, towards the city of al-Shaddadah, now ISIS' last stronghold in al-Hasakah province.[9][10] Subsequently, Arab tribal leaders reportedly urged ISIS to withdraw from the city "peacefully," in order to prevent civilian casualties and the possible collapse of al-Shaddadi's economic infrastructure, if a destructive battle between the SDF/coalition forces and the Islamic State were to occur.[10] It was also reported that ISIS was beginning to evacuate some of its positions near al-Shaddadi.[10]
On 19 February 2016, thetown was captured by the SDF and subsequently became part of the DAANES.[11][12] After SDF forces took control of the town, Yazidi spiritual leaderEidou Baba Sheikh stated, “The Yazidis are happy when they [SDF] liberated the town.”[6]
Following its capture, the U.S. Armyestablished a military base southeast of the city.[citation needed] The base regularly receivescargo aircraft carrying logistical and military supplies and serves as a major hub for military coordination and anti-ISIS operations in cooperation with the SDF and localAsayish police force.[13][14][15]
The U.S. military base has been targeted withvehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) and rocket attacks by ISIS[16] and variousIranian-backed militias, including theIslamic Resistance in Iraq,[17] notably duringattacks on U.S. bases amid the Gaza conflict.[18]
The areas surrounding al-Shaddadah contain one of the largeoil and gas fields in Hasakah Governorate.[6]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) Also available in English:UN OCHA."2004 Census Data". Humanitarian Data Exchange.
