Control of cities during the Syrian civil war

This article provides an overview of cities and towns during the Syrian civil war.

Name	Population	District	Held by
Aleppo	1,800,000	Mount Simeon District	u	See Aleppo (Syrian Civil War).
Afrin	36,562	Afrin District	y	See Afrin (Syrian Civil War).
Atarib	10,657	Atarib District	y	See Atarib (Syrian Civil War).
Ayn al-Arab (Kobanî)	45,000	Ayn Al-Arab District	y	See Kobanî (Syrian Civil War).
Azaz	31,623	A'zaz District	y	Azaz is a passage point to Turkey. On 19 July 2012, the FSA chased out the Syrian Army from the city of Azaz and took complete control of it.^[1] FSA also took over the associated border crossing of Bab al-Salame.^[2] Samir Haj Omar, an economist who now heads the local 30-member political council, said Turkish officials have been more willing to deal with him and other rebel leaders now that they are de facto governors. In early August 2012, the first new shipments of rice, flour and gasoline arrived in rebel-controlled northern Syria, according to local officials there. Earlier in the conflict, supplies were ferried across the Turkish border by horse, or on foot, by smugglers traversing muddy trails while dodging Turkish and Syrian border guards.^[3] On 29 October 2012, France 24 reported that there was a refugee camp between Azaz and the Turkish border.^{[citation needed]} On 28 February 2013, it was reported that the FSA checkpoint in Azaz was where the Free Syrian Soldiers hand in their weapons to go into the refugee camp and to Turkey. It is also the first or second checkpoint into Turkey and Syria.^[4] On 18 September 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant seized control of the town, posting snipers on rooftops, erecting checkpoints and imposing a curfew on the local population.^[5] On 28 February 2014, FSA and Jabhat al-Akrad took control of the town and the surrounding villages.^[6]^[7] As of January 2015; Northern Storm Brigade controls the town.^[8] al-Nusra Front has a minor presence.^[8]
Al-Bab	63,069	Al Bab District	y	See Al-Bab (Syrian Civil War).
Dayr Hafir	18,948	Dayr Hafir District	r	See Dayr Hafir (Syrian Civil War).
Jarabulus	11,570	Jarabulus District	y	See Jarabulus (Syrian Civil War).
Manbij	99,497	Manbij District	y	See Manbij (Syrian Civil War).
Al-Safira	106,382	As-Safira District	n	See Battle of Safira.
Anadan	11,918	Mount Simeon District	y	At dusk on 29 July 2012, FSA commander in the area, Lieutenant Rifaat Khali, mobilized 150 fighters to seize control of the Anadan checkpoint, a strategic location linking the city of Aleppo 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the south with the Turkish border to the north, which the FSA used as a source for supplies. On 30 July, after ten hours of fighting, FSA seized control of Anadan checkpoint^[9] and retrieved ammunition left behind by the defeated government forces. During the fighting, eight tanks were also captured, seven of which were still operational; the operational ones were intended for use in the battle of Aleppo.^[10] At least some of the captured tanks were deployed northwards to Azaz, where they were used to support an attack on a loyalist-held airbase.^[11] Anadan has been the site of heavy shelling by the Syrian army military.^[12] On 24 October 2012, the formation of a local administration council composed from prominent engineers, doctors, human right activists, was announced.^[13] On 16 February 2020, the Syrian Army took the city.^[14]
Darat Izza	13,525	Mount Simeon District	y	On 23 June 2012, 25 Shabiha militias were killed by Syrian rebels in the city. They were part of a larger group kidnapped by a rebel group. The fate of the others kidnapped was unknown.^[15] Many of the corpses of the shabiha militia killed were in military uniform.^[16]^[17]^[18] A secondary school has turned into a police station, a courthouse and a temporary town hall run by the rebels. It is part of a nascent rebel administration that is taking shape in areas of the country where Assad's authority has disappeared as his security forces try to secure control of Syria's main cities: Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and others. A defector from the Assad administration, Abdul Hadi heads a "revolutionary" security force made up of some 40 officers, all of them former policemen in the government. At times, Abdul Hadi's role seems more akin to that of a local mayor than a police officer. Among his self-assigned responsibilities, he monitors local bread supplies, urging bakeries to adjust production according to need. Recent rebel attacks on a government-owned wheat silo and army gasoline depots have given them access to new supplies.^[19] On 21 November, rebels attacked the nearby Sheikh Suleiman base (which was under siege for over two months), but were repelled from the area by an army counterattack, in which 25 rebels were killed.^[20] on 10 December, the base was taken by opposition forces. A little over 100 regime troops that were left inside the base retreated to the scientific building wearing gas masks.^[21] The town was under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant since September 2013.,^[22] but then withdrew following a wide-scale offensive led by the Army of Mujahedeen and the Islamic Front.^[23]
Khan Tuman	2,781	Mount Simeon District	y	There is a huge collection of warehouses (about 58 of them) that extends over five kilometers in Khan Tuman.^{[citation needed]} on 15 December 2012, Free Syrian Army declared their full control of the fuel, ammunition, and grain warehouses in Khan Tuman 11 km southwest of central Aleppo after clashes with the government forces.^{[citation needed]} On 15 March, rebels seized control of an ammunition factory complex and munitions depots. The complex had been used to supply the Syrian army with munitions to regularly shell rebel positions in the surrounding area.^[24] On 18 August, Sohr said that Syrian troops take control over the hill of Khan Toman.^[25]^{[non-primary source needed]} On 29 January 2020, government forces captured the town.^[26]
Khanasir	2,397	Al-Safira District	y	On late August 2013, Ahrar al-Sham eized the town.^[27] On 1 October, Syrian Army forces launched an offensive outside the town (which is situated along a key road needed to transport essential supplies), met by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Al Nusra Front, Ahrar al-Sham and other militias troops.^[28] By 10 October, Syrian government troops had seized the town.^[29] On 25 February 2016, government forces regain over control the town of Khanassir after ISIS take him during their attack on the town a few days ago.^[30] On 1 December 2024, Syrian oppositionist rebels have captured the city.^[31]^[32]
Al-Muslimiyah	5,916	Mount Simeon District	y	Since late November 2012, the Syrian Army Military Infantry College (northeast of the city of Aleppo) has been under siege by rebels from the Tawhid Brigade of the Free Syrian Army (FSA). The siege of the College is a continuation of the push from Atarib and base 46.^[33] In early December, FSA entered the College and took control progressively of all buildings^[34] On 15 December 2012, the rebels reportedly captured the infantry academy, army base and recruiting center at al-Muslimiyah,^[35]^[36] after weeks of fighting. The Hanano Barracks has a three-kilometer square campus.^[36] A top rebel commander from the Tawhid Brigade, Yusef al-Jadr ("Abu Furat"), was killed during the clashes while the pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated a large number of rebels and soldiers were also slain in the battle.^[37] The rebel brigade claimed it captured 100 prisoners.^[35] During the SAA offensive in October 2014 which captured the Handarat area and placed rebel-held Aleppo under a de facto siege, Syrian Army units captured the village along with surrounding areas.^[38]^{[non-primary source needed]}
Sarrin	6,104	Ayn Al-Arab District	y	In May 2013, the YPG took control of this area near the Tomb of Suleyman Shah.^{[citation needed]} In September 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and al-Nusra Front militants seized control of Sarrin.^[39] See also 2012 Syrian Kurdistan campaign. In July 2015, YPG forces took over the area.^[40]
Tell Aran	17,767	Al-Safira District	y	On 1 August 2013, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Al Nusra Front fighters took control of the town after defeating Kurdish forces.^[41] Shortly afterwards, local Kurdish sources claimed that Kurdish civilians were killed by the jihadist groups.^[42] On 11 November 2013, Tell Aran was seized by Syrian Army troops^[43]
Tell Rifaat	20,514	A'zaz District	y	In the early summer of 2012, Syrian government authorities withdrew from Tell Rifaat and were replaced by a council made up of local scholars, judges, and former Syrian Army officers.^[44] On 8 August 2012, Tell Rifaat was bombed by the Syrian Air Force, resulting in the deaths of six people, all members of the Blaw family.^[45] Opposition activists based in Aleppo claimed that Syrian Army forces were attempting to cut off the FSA's transport route between Tell Rifaat and Aleppo.^[46] By November 2013, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant was in full control of the town.^[47] In January 2014, resistance fighters, mainly members of the Islamic Front, defeated ISIS militants in the town. Liwa al-Fatah of the Islamic Front came into control of the town.^[8] On 15 February 2016, the town was taken by the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces.^[48] On 12 March 2018, came under control of the Syrian army.^[49]^[50]
Tell Shughayb	5,110	Mount Simeon District	n	On 1 March 2013, the Syrian army regained control of the strategic Tell Shughayb town allowing them to approach the Aleppo airport.^[51]^[52]
Urum al-Kubrah	5,391	Atarib District	y	Since June, has control. On 22 September 2012, FSA seized Urum al-Kubrah from "pro-government militias", opening the way to lay siege to Base 46.^[53] By January 2014, the town was controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.^[54]
Urum al-Sughrah	637	Atarib District	y	Since June 2012, FSA has control.^[55] In October 2012, the military base of regiment 46 (west of town) was under siege by rebels who shelled it on a regular basis with mortar and rockets.^{[citation needed]} On 18 November 2012, the base which is considered as one of the most important in north Syria, fell under rebel control, after a 55-day siege^[56] On 14 December 2012, the Administrative Affairs College (which is 17 km west of central Aleppo and 8 km east of the recently captured 46th regiment base) fell under rebel control^[57]
Outside listed towns in Aleppo G.		—	u~52%~27.5% ~20.5%	The military situation in and around the Aleppo as of 18 March 2018 Syrian Army control SDF control Opposition control In March 2012, fighting erupted for the first time in the northern Aleppo Governorate. Fighting even spilled over the border into Turkey in May, and by the end of that month, the rebels could report effective control over most of the northern Aleppo countryside.^[55] Assad's security forces lost control of almost all of the countryside north of Aleppo in late July, fleeing an offensive by rebel groups from across the rural north. Since then, local village committees that steered the uprising have shifted gears, transforming themselves into interim village governments. Rebel checkpoints dot the winding single-lane roads between the region's farming villages and towns. The countryside stretching from Aleppo to the Turkish border about 30 miles (48 km) away has been cleared of government forces.^[3] Across the scattered farm towns, locals have formed councils to remove rubble, restore utilities and funnel supplies to fighters in Aleppo. They organize security patrols to guard against thieves and government spies. Some are running prisons and rudimentary courts.^[58] On 1 January 2013, it was reported that a large majority of the Governorate was under rebel control.^[59] At 30 June 2017, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) fully withdrew from all of their remaining positions in the Aleppo province to government forces.^[60]

Name	Population	District	Held by	History during the Syrian Civil War
Damascus – Barzeh	47,339	Damascus District	n	Barzeh, a suburb of Damascus, was reported to be contested as of 7 December 2012.^[61] A truce in Barzeh was signed in January 2014. Government footage showed bulldozers clearing rubble and the local governor speaking to residents; footage from the rebels showed their fighters were still present, neither shooting nor being rounded up. The deal was voluntary; rebels were tired and wanted their destroyed town cleaned up.^[62] On 14 April, Barzeh, a suburb of Damascus, was reported to be under army control.^[63] See also: Damascus offensive.In February 2017, the Government demanded that the rebels leave Barzeh as well as the neighbouring Tishreen neighbourhood. After an intense three-month period of fighting, the rebels finally gave up and agreed to be transferred to Idlib. "See also: Qaboun offensive (2017)."
Damascus – Jobar		Damascus District
Damascus – Kafr Sousa		Damascus District	n
Damascus – Qaboun		Damascus District	r
Damascus – Tadamon	86,793	Damascus District	r	ln late November 2012, the west side of this neighborhood of Damascus was controlled by the Syrian Army whereas the east side was controlled by FSA after a regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq.^[61] In February 2014, it was reported that the neighborhood was under siege by the army.^[64] See also: Damascus offensive and Southern Damascus offensive (April 2018)
Damascus – Yarmouk Camp	18.000	Damascus District	y	The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) conquest Yarmouk in April 2015. See also Yarmouk camp fighting (2015) and Southern Damascus offensive (April 2018)
Damascus	1,280,781	Damascus District	p	By mid-July 2012, fighting in Damascus intensified, with a major rebel push to take the city.^[65] On 19 July 2012, the Syrian Army stormed the rebel held Qaboun neighborhood with a large number of tanks.^[66] On 20 July, the Syrian Army continued its counterattack, storming the neighborhood of Jobar in Damascus, searching for rebels.^[67] The rebels confirmed they had been forced to withdraw from Al-Midan after the army assault.^[68]^[69] Rebel fighters stormed and burned the Sa'iqa military camp, which was being used as a training facility, in the Basateen al-Mezzeh neighborhood in central Damascus.^[70] The conflict reached a decisive phase in late July. Government forces managed to break the rebel offensive on Damascus by pushing out most of the opposition fighters. In November 2012, there was renewed fighting in some of the neighborhoods (Qaboun, Jobar, Qadam) after a regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq. The Mezzeh Military airport and its nearby military bases are home to the 4th Armored Division. These bases protect central Damascus from the rebel forces in Darayya and Muadamiyat al-Sham. The nearby Mazzeh 86 neighborhood is an Alawite slum and the point of origin for many pro-government militias.^[61]See also: Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign
Darayya	78,763	Darayya District	r	See Darayya during Syrian Civil War.
Douma	110,893	Douma District	y	A battle began on 21 January 2012, after FSA fighters changed their tactics from attack and retreat guerrilla warfare in the suburbs of Damascus to an all-out assault on army and loyalist units. Earlier in January, the FSA had gained control over large portions of Douma. On 31 January 2012, the Syrian Army retakes Douma. Hundreds of troops controlled the mostly deserted streets and arrested hundreds of people.^[71] Complete control was achieved on 30 June when Syrian army troops entered all parts of Douma.^[72] On 18 October, after heavy fighting, the FSA retook control of the city.^[73] On 30 October, there were continuing fights in Douma.^[74] It was reported to be under rebel control as of 7 December 2012.^[61] On 30 December, the Syrian troops killed 30 "terrorists" from the Al Qaeda-linked Al Nusra Front and other jihadist groups during a series of "qualitative" operations in two areas of the rebel-held Douma suburb, east of the capital Damascus.^[75] On 1 February, the Observatory said that regime-versus-rebel clashes were heavy in the Damascus suburb of Douma.^[76] On 12 April 2018, the Syrian army took full control of the city Douma.^[77]^[78] See also: Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012) and Rif Dimashq offensive (November 2012 – February 2013) and Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018).
An-Nabk	32,548	Al-Nabk District	y	See Battle of Qalamoun (Army push into An-Nabek).
Qatana	33,996	Qatana District	n	See Qatana (Syrian Civil War).
Qudsaya	33,571	Qudsaya District	r	Qudsaya is called "The Lion's Den" because of the presence of a large number of Alawite government supporters.^[61] On 24 August 2012, government forces stormed the town amid heavy gunfire.^{[citation needed]} in March 2013, it was reported that the majority Sunni suburb of Qudsaya has just two Alawite areas, but Republican guard troops were busy clearing out Sunni enclaves there throughout the summer and fall of 2012.^[79] On 9 November 2013, military sources announced an agreement had been reached in Qudsaya. The agreement establishes a ceasefire and a joint security committee from the army and the opposition militants, under the Syrian flag, which will be raised in the town square. Also as part of the agreement, the two roads leading to Qudsaya will be reopened – the old Safsaf Avenue and the road that links the city to its main suburb.^[80]
Al-Qutayfah	26,671	Al-Qutayfah District	n	On 5 December 2012, government forces stationed in Al-Qutayfah launched rocket shelling on neighboring areas.^{[citation needed]}
Al-Tall	44,597	Al-Tall District	r	In July 2012, the city became an important rebel base around Damascus.^[81] When the Battle of Damascus started, the rebels stormed two government buildings and reportedly detained 40 soldiers while seizing a number of weapons. The city was also one of the places where the rebel retreated after their defeat in Damascus. At the end of July, rebels were gathering and massing in Al-Tall to ready themselves for another attack on Damascus.^[82] At the beginning of August, the Syrian Army started shelling the rebel positions more intensively.^[83] The city became completely besieged by the Army after the capture of 3 Syrian journalists by the rebels near the city.^[84] The Syrian Army took control of the city and cleared it of rebel presence 17 August, while the Syrian National Council described the area a "sinister zone".^[85] The three captured journalists were found by the Syrian Army.^[86] See also: Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012).
Yabroud	25,891	Yabrud District	y	See Yabroud (Syrian Civil War).
Al-Zabadani	26,285	Zabadani District	r	See Al-Zabadani (Syrian Civil War).
Arbin	44,934	Markaz Rif Dimashq	y	On 2 July, FSA had taken control of a number of suburbs north of the capital Damascus, including Arbin. FSA fighters openly patrolled the streets of the suburbs, and clashes occurred less than 10 km from the center of Damascus city itself.^[87] In November 2012, there was sustained fighting in the town after a regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq. It was reported to be under rebel control as of 7 December 2012.^[61]
Assal al-Ward	5,812	Yabrud District	y	Since June 2012, the Syrian Army has had control of this town located along the Syrian–Lebanese borders.^[55] On 15 April 2014, the Syrian army, backed by Hezbollah fighters, retook village Aasal al-Ward.^[88] In October 2014, al-Nusra Front launched a heavy attack on al-Jebbah and Assal al-Ward.^[89]
Babbila	50,880	Markaz Rif Dimashq	r	ln late November 2012, this suburb has seen fighting between FSA and government troops after a regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq^[61] In February 2014, Syria's army and rebels agreed to a truce in Babbila. Regime troops raised the Syrian flag over the municipality of the southern suburb, which had been used as a rebel rear base until several months ago when the army laid siege to it. Armed rebels were still present in the area, as the terms of the agreement also included an amnesty, a security source said.^[90]
Beit Sahem	15,667	Markaz Rif Dimashq	r	In January 2014, the local opposition committee in the suburb proposed to the government a cease-fire with local autonomy, according to a resident of a neighboring town familiar with the talks. People there were shot as they tried to leave under an abortive deal in December, but they are hungry, and ready to try again.^[62] At the end of April 2018, rebel forces hand over their territory south of Damascus to Syrian army and evacuated.^[91]See also Southern Damascus offensive (April 2018)
Beit Sawa	6,249	Markaz Rif Dimashq	n	Beit Sawa and the nearby Hammurah fields, experienced intermittent shelling by Syrian Army for three days between 30 June to 2 July 2012.^[92] ln late November 2012, Beit Sawa was under FSA control after a regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq.^[61]
Al-Hajar al-Aswad	84,948	Darayya District	r	On 26 July 2012, fighting was reported in the Al-Hajar al-Aswad suburb of the capital, a place described as home to thousands of poor refugees from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights who were at the forefront of the movement against Assad.^[93] The FSA had withdrawn to the southern suburb of Al-Hajar al-Aswad with the suburb being shelled by Government forces and an activist in the area said that there were still ongoing clashes in the south of the city.^[94] On 27 July 2012, the army took it back. On 30 October 2012, clashes broke out in Al-Hajar Al-Aswad between rebels and the army, spreading into the adjacent Yarmuk Palestinian camp.^[95]^[96] On 19 November, rebels seized the headquarters of an army battalion and air defense base on the edge of the suburb, making it the nearest military base to Central Damascus to fall under rebel control.^[97] In January 2014, reports indicated that opposition fighters fleeing the fallen towns are concentrated in the remaining strongholds, particularly Al-Hajar al-Aswad.^[98] On 15 May 2018, the Syrian Army and allies captured al-Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood completely.^[99] See also: Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012). Rif Dimashq offensive (November 2012 – February 2013) and Southern Damascus offensive (April 2018).
Harasta	68,708	Douma District	r	Before the war, Harasta was home to the 104th and 105th Republican Guard regiments and has a high population of Alawites in the suburbs,^[61] although it was a site of several anti-government protests in 2011. Harasta was reported under rebel control by early 2012.^[100] In March 2012^[101] and again on 21 October 2012 it was reported that Harasta was under heavy government shelling.^[102] On 25 October, the Syrian army fired heavy tank and rocket barrages, after rebels overran two army checkpoints on the edge of the town.^[103] On 26 October 2012, it was shelled with heavy artillery, killing at least 10.^[104] On 30 October, government airstrikes targeted Harasta.^[105] It was reported to be under regime control on 25 November 2012.^[61] In August 2013 it was reported under rebel control with government advances on key points in the town.^[106] Government control but rebel advances were reported in January 2014.^[107] Territory in Harasta changed hands repeatedly during the Rif Dimashq offensive (September 2015). It has been the site of fighting in the Battle of Harasta (2017–18) .
Kafr Batna	22,535	Markaz Rif Dimashq		On 29 January 2012, Syrian Army tanks entered this suburb of Damascus to force out FSA. Although it has not been verified, opposition activists reported that five FSA soldiers and 14 civilians, including at least one minor, were killed during the raid.^[108] on 4 February 2013, it was reported that the suburb was taken over by the rebels as part of a large push into the capital^[109] On 17 March 2018, the Syrian army managed to advance and completely control the whole town of Kafrbatna.^[110]
Muadamiyat al-Sham	52,738	Darayya District	r	After a two-day operation at the end of July 2012, which killed 120 people in this suburb,^[111] the Syrian Army started a new operation on 20 August. The rebels repelled the first attack but the Syrian Army quickly managed to overrun the rebels.^[112]^[113] The death toll of the operation was estimated at 86 dead, half of them executed by the Syrian Army for being suspected rebels.^[114]^[115] A car bomb exploded in the town on 31 October, injuring an unknown number of people. By this point, the town was being contested between rebels and government forces.^[116] On 30 November 2012, there was continued shelling in the suburb from 4th division headquarters and Mezzeh Military Airport.^{[citation needed]} Rebels surrendered to the Syrian Arab Army on 1 September 2016^[117] See also: Siege of Darayya and Muadamiyat.
Al-Sabinah	62,509	Markaz Rif Dimashq	r	On late November 2012, this suburb has seen fighting between FSA and government troops after a regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq^[61] The town was retaken by the SAA, National Defense Force and Hezbullah fighters on 7 November 2013, cutting off the main rebel supply lines into southern Damascus.^[118] On 12 March 2013, artillery shelling targeted Hujaira Balad from brigade 158 that is situated on Jabal Suhya south of Al-Sabinah.^[119] See also: Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012).
Sahnaya	13,993	Darayya District	n	Since late November 2012, this suburb was under government control^[61] See also: Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012) and Rif Dimashq offensive (November 2012–present).
Saqba	25,696	Markaz Rif Dimashq	n	On 27 August 2012, rebels attacked government positions in Saqba, overrunning several Army checkpoints. Following the attacks, airstrikes killed an unspecified number of people in Saqba.^[120]^[121] ln late November 2012, Saqba was under FSA control after a regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq.^[61] On 17 March 2018, the Syrian army managed to advance and completely control the whole town of Kafrbatna and the city of Saqba.^[110]See also: Rif Dimashq offensive (August–October 2012).
Yalda	28,384	Markaz Rif Dimashq	r	ln late November 2012, this suburb was under FSA control after a regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq.^[61] At the end of April 2018, rebel forces hand over their territory south of Damascus to the Syrian army and evacuated.^[91]^[122]See also Southern Damascus offensive (April 2018)
Zamalka	44,661	Markaz Rif Dimashq	r	On 2 July, FSA had taken control of a number of suburbs north of the capital Damascus, including Zamalka. FSA fighters openly patrolled the streets of the suburbs, and clashes occurred less than 10 km from the center of Damascus city itself.^[87] In November 2012, there was sustained fighting in the town after a regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq. It was reported to be under rebel control as of 7 December 2012.^[61] However, as of September 2013, the government still had a presence in the town.^[123]
Outside listed towns in Rif Dimashq G.		—	r	Frontlines in the Qalamoun Mountains in April 2014 Syrian Government control Opposition control Hezbollah Presence Contested Since June 2012, FSA controls rural areas between the Damascus-Homs highway and the Lebanese frontier (north of Zabadani)^[55] On 2 July, FSA had taken control of a number of suburbs north of the capital Damascus. FSA fighters openly patrolled the streets of the suburbs, and clashes occurred less than 10 km from the center of Damascus city itself.^[87] On 25 November, rebels seized control of the Marj As Sultan Military airbase in Eastern Ghouta after a battle in which two Syrian Army helicopters were shot down^[124] On 29 November, rebels stated that they had blocked access to Damascus International Airport.^[125] The Ministry of Information said that access to the airport was safe and clear of rebel activity. Emirates and EgyptAir suspended their flights to Damascus.^[125] Along the road from Damascus to the airport, there are 7 main bridges; On 2 May, government forces captured the town of Qaysa which lies to the east of Damascus in a steady push north from the city's airport.^[126] For almost forty years, the majority of Syria's medium- and short-range ballistic missile force has been garrisoned at the Al Qutayfah Tactical SSM Storage and Training Facility, located 25.4 kilometers northeast of Damascus, which is the home of both the Syrian Army's 155th Missile Brigade, equipped with Russian-made SCUD ballistic missiles, and the 156th Missile Brigade, which controls the Syrian Army's entire complement of Russian-made FROG short-range ballistic missiles. There is a SCUD missile storage and support facility 14 miles (23 km) south of Damascus at the Hirjillah Army Barracks which is home of the 76th Armored Brigade of the Syrian Army's 1st Armored Division.^[127] See also: 2011 Rif Dimashq blockades, Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl, Battle of Qalamoun, Al-Otaiba ambush, Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign and Yarmouk camp fighting (2015).

Name	Population	District	Held by	History during the Syrian Civil War
Daraa	97,969	Daraa District	r	On 25 April 2011, the Syrian military launched a large operation in Daraa in a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.^[128] The operation lasted until 5 May 2011. On 16 February 2012, the Syrian Army reportedly attacked Daraa, shelling the city heavily. This was apparently because "Daraa has been regaining its role in the uprising. Demonstrations have resumed and FSA has been providing security for protests in some parts of the city." The attack was part of a security force push "to regain control of areas they lost in recent weeks", indicating that the FSA in Daraa had taken control of parts of the city. Security forces attacked at least three districts, but FSA fighters fought back, firing at Syrian Army roadblocks and buildings housing security police and militiamen.^[129] On 14 March 2012, the FSA controlled at least one main district in the city of Daraa (Al-Balad district) which made the Syrian army attack it by firing anti-aircraft guns into buildings of the FSA-controlled district.^[130] See also: 2011–2012 Daraa Governorate clashes and 2013 Daraa offensive. A tent where around 100 supporters of President Assad had assembled to discuss an election campaign was shelled on 22 May 2014 killing at least 21 people and wounding dozens more.^[131] On 12 July 2018, the battle for the city Daraa has ended as, after several days of intense clashes between the Syrian Army and rebel forces, the last have agreed to terms of reconciliation.^[132]^[133] The city fell to the opposition on 7 December 2024.^[134] See also:2018 Southern Syria offensive and Southern Syria offensive (2024)
Izra	19,158	Izra' District	n	Izra is the base for the 5th division's 12th Armored Brigade and 175th Artillery Regiment;^[79] On 16 December 2012, rebels and troops clashed in the town.^[135] On 22 January 2013, it was reported that the army entered the town and started an arrest campaign.^[136]
Al-Sanamayn	26,268	Al-Sanamayn District	n	See Al-Sanamayn (Syrian Civil War).
Tafas	32,236	Daraa District	y
Muzayrib	12,640	Daraa District	y
Al-Yadudah	8,967	Daraa District	y
Adwan	2,487	Izra District	t	By early September 2013, the town was in control of the Syrian Army.^[137] Rebels took control of the town during their spring offensive in 2014. On 27 July 2018, the Syrian army recaptured the village of Adwan from ISIL.^[138]
Da'el	29,408	Daraa District	n	In March 2011, this predominantly Sunni Muslim town was among the first towns in the area of Daraa where residents participated in demonstrations against the government.^[139] On 29 March 2013 the town was reportedly captured by anti-government rebels. Da'el is strategically located on one of two main north-south highways that connect Damascus to Daraa. The rebels initially engaged in clashes with Syrian Army troops manning checkpoints outside the town, leaving 12 government soldiers and 16 rebels dead, according to the activist group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).^[140]
Jasim	31,683	Izra' District	y	Jasim was one of the first cities to participate in large-scale protests against the government on 18 March 2011.^[139] Further mass protests were reported on 22 April 2011.^[141] On 1 April 2012, four Syrian Army soldiers were killed in clashes with rebel FSA gunmen in Jasim.^[142] On 12 and 13 November 2012, fierce gunfire has been reported^{[by whom?]} in the town.^{[citation needed]} On 15 January 2014, rebels were in control of Jasim.^[143] On 17 July 2018, the Syrian army captured the town.^[144]
Khabab	3,379	Al-Sanamayn District	n	By May 2013, this predominantly Catholic town was reportedly under the control of the Syrian Army.^[145]
Muthabin	2,351	Al-Sanamayn District	n	By May 2013, the town was reportedly in control of the Syrian Army.^[145]
Nawa	47,066	Izra' District	n	In the same speech where he commented on the loss of territory in Daraa province, Syrian MP Walid al-Zouhi stated that "we are only protected from the west by Base 61," referring to the 61st Mechanized Brigade headquarters located near Nawa.^[146] On 17 July, rebels captured most of Nawa city.^[147] In early August 2013 the town was under the control of the Army.^[148] On 16 October 2013, a powerful blast ripped through a pickup truck that went past Tell_al-Jumou' (south-west of Nawa), where a battalion of troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad was positioned.^[149] On 9 November 2014, Islamic battalions and the al-Nusra Front took over the city of Nawa, after violent clashes against regime forces.^[150]^{[non-primary source needed]} At end of July 2018, the Syrian army regain control of the city Nawa after the rebels surrender all of their territory in the Daraa province to government.^[151]
Al-Shaykh Saad	3,373	Izra District	n	By early September 2013, the town was under the control of the Syrian Army.^[137]
Tubna	1,272	Al-Sanamayn District	n	By May 2013, this predominantly Catholic town was reportedly in control of the Syrian Army.^[145]
Outside listed towns in Daraa G.		—	r^[132]^[152]	Since June 2012, FSA controls two areas, west and east of Daraa city (about a quarter of the governorate).^[55] by December 2012, the FSA took control of several border checkpoints stationed at the borders with Jordan^[153] On 23 March, the FSA seized full control of the largest base in Daraa, Base 38. On 25 March 2013, a Jordanian official told AFP that "The Free Syrian Army closed the two crossings of Daraa and Nasib from their side after they took control of them," The development comes after the rebels seized a 25-kilometer strip of land stretching from the Jordanian border to the Israeli Golan Heights.^[154] On 3 April 2013, rebels captured the air defense base of the 49th battalion of the Syrian Army, in the town of Alma in the northern outskirts of Daraa.^[155] On 3 May 2013, it was reported that the rebels were surrounding brigade 34 of the 9th Division^[156]^[146] At July 2018, Syrian Army controls of Daraa city^[132] and the whole of Daraa Governorate.^[152]See also: Daraa Governorate campaign, 2018 Southern Syria offensive.

Name	Population	District	Held by	History during the Syrian Civil War
Deir ez-Zor	211,857	Deir ez-Zor District	r^[157]	See Deir ez-Zor (Syrian Civil War).
Abu Kamal	42,510	Abu Kamal District	y	See Abu Kamal (Syrian Civil War).
Mayadin	44,028	Mayadin District	y	See Al-Mayadin (Syrian Civil War).
Outside listed towns in Deir ez-Zor G.		—	t52%^[158] 48%	See Deir ez-Zor Governorate (Syrian Civil War).

Name	Population	District	Held by	History during the Syrian Civil War
Hama	312,994	Hama District	n	On 28 January 2012, 4 neighborhoods of Hama city were under opposition control.^[159] Inside Hama city, FSA under the leadership of Captain Mohammed Khalid al-Battal's al-Majed Brigade has been able to coordinate disruptive raids across the city targeting military checkpoints and security forces' outposts, but their ability to inflict casualties on loyalist troops pales in comparison to their rural counterparts.^[55] On 25 April 2013, there were fights in the Tariq Halab neighbourhood.^[160] On 5 December 2024, Hama was captured by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.^[161]^[162] See also: Siege of Hama (2011), 27 May 2012 Hama Governorate clashes, 2012 Hama offensive and 2024 Hama offensive
Masyaf	22,508	Masyaf District	n	Since June 2012, the government has maintained control.^[55]
Mahardah	17,578	Mahardah District	n	In September 2012, the government was reported in control of the town^[163] On 17 December 2012, government positions in Mahardah were reportedly under attack by rebel forces.^[164] In the summer of 2014, Al Nusra briefly besieged the city during the 2014 Hama offensive before being beaten back.
Salamiyah	66,724	Salamiyah District	n	See Salamiyah (Syrian Civil War).
Al-Suqaylabiyah	13,920	Al-Suqaylabiyah District	n	On 14 October 2012, there was fierce artillery and rocket shelling from Al-Nahel checkpoint in this Christian town, targeting the town of Kirnaz^{[citation needed]}
Suran	29,100	Hama District	n	On 2 December 2024, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham and allies captured this town on the road between Aleppo and Damascus.^[165] Later, the army recaptures this town.^[166]^[167]
Kafr Nabudah	13,513	Al-Suqaylabiyah District	n	On 19 December 2012, within two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that government troops had already been cleared from the small town of Kafr Nabudah. Qassem Saadeddine, a member of the rebel military command confirmed this.^[168] On 8 May 2019, the Syrian army captured the town of Kafr Naboudeh in northwest Hama.^[169]
Ma'an	1,561	Hama District	y	On 3 December 2024, the syrian opposition took control of three Alawite villages in the central province of Hama, among them Ma'an.^[170] On 7 October 2014, SOHR reported clashes in the vicinity of Ma'an.^[171]^{[non-primary source needed]} During the 2016 Hama offensive rebels retake control. Army recaptures Ma'an.^[172]
Qastun	6,187	Al-Suqaylabiyah District	y	On 29 January 2013, it was reported that FSA was in control of the town.^[173] However, The Tiger Forces of the Syrian Arab Army launched an assault of their own in the Jisr Al-Shughour District, taking control of the several villages including Qastoun, after fierce clashes with the Syrian Al-Qaeda group "Jabhat Al-Nusra" on the afternoon of Monday 27 April 2015. currently fighting is still ongoing this morning, with both sides in a deadlock for control of this town.^[174]
Tremseh	6,926	Mahardah District	n	The Tremseh residents are mostly Sunni Muslims.^[175] A Syrian Army convoy was ambushed by rebels near Hama, which led to a counter-attack from the Syrian Army, and reports suggested government troops were trying to take back the town from rebel forces.^[176]^[177] On 12 July 2012, Tremseh was surrounded by government tanks and artillery, after which, the Syrian military launched a full-scale attack against FSA inside the town. Tanks entered Tremseh after forces had shelled the town continuously from 5 a.m. until noon. Syrian army forces, whose numbers were bolstered by "Shabeha", accompanied the tanks into Tremseh.^[178] See also: Battle of Tremseh.
Outside listed towns in Hama G.		—	r99% approximately 1%	Frontlines in the Hama Governorate during the 2013 Hama offensive. Syrian Government control Opposition control Contested By June 2012, FSA controlled swathes of land in Northern Hama Governorate. FSA and local people administered justice and the distribution of supplies to residents.^[179] On 16 December 2012, the Syrian armed opposition launched the 2012 Hama offensive with the intent of taking control of Hama Governorate. Within two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that government troops had already been cleared from the towns of Hasraya, and Sheikh Hadid.^[180]^{[non-primary source needed]} Rebels had advanced 40 kilometres (25 mi) south from Maarrat al-Nu'man and Jisr ash-Shugour, encountering little resistance.^[181] On 19 December, brigades of FSA claimed in videos that they had captured Kafr Zita and all area north of Hama city. It seemed that rebels had overrun the loyalist army lines north of Hama city within 48 hours^[182] On 20 December, rebel commander Kassem Saaddedin said via Skype that rebels had captured six towns north of Hama. He claimed FSA controlled Kafr Zita, and Hasraya.^[183] In April 2013, Syrian rebels launched a military operation in the eastern part of the province of Hama, in an attempt to open up a new front, after rebel attacks in the Governorate had stalled. The rebels managed to capture 10 villages during their offensive. However, the Army soon captured 20–23 villages, including most of the ones previously captured by the rebels. On 7 September 2013, it was reported that there were many checkpoints manned by Assad's forces in northwestern Hama province. ISIS also controls some parts of Hama countryside.^[184] See also: 2013 Hama offensive. In the middle of 2014, rebels launched an attack on Hama City and Hama military airport. During this offensive, they seized several villages, but the Syrian military quickly launched a counterattack, reversing all rebel gains and taking new villages. As of October 2014, in Northern Hama, rebels were in control of only a few villages near the Idlib Governorate. On 5 October 2017, the Syrian army recaptured all of the area that was under the control of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Hama province.^[185]

Control of cities during the Syrian civil war

List

Aleppo Governorate

Damascus and Rif Damashq Governorates

Daraa Governorate

Deir ez-Zor Governorate

Hama Governorate

al-Hasakah Governorate

Homs Governorate

Idlib Governorate

Latakia Governorate

Quneitra Governorate

Raqqa Governorate

as-Suwayda Governorate

Tartus Governorate

See also

References

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