Dayr Hafir
Dayr Hafir
دير حافر | |
|---|---|
Dayr Hafir is the administrative center of Nahiya Dayr Hafir and Dayr Hafir District. | |
Dayr Hafir Location in Syria | |
| Coordinates: 36°09′25″N 37°42′28″E / 36.15694°N 37.70778°E | |
| Country | Syria |
| Governorate | Aleppo |
| District | Dayr Hafir |
| Subdistrict | Dayr Hafir |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.7 km2 (2.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 342 m (1,122 ft) |
| Population (2013) | |
• Total | 35,409 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
Dayr Hafir (Arabic: دَيْر حَافِر / ALA-LC: Dayr Ḥāfir) is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Dayr Hafir District and the Aleppo Governorate. It is located 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Aleppo on the Aleppo-Raqqa highway, 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) to the north of Sabkhat al-Jabbul. It is the regional centre of the Dayr Hafir District. In the 2004 official census, the town of Dayr Hafir had a population of 18,948. The town is home to an archeological site dating back to the 9th millennium BC. Dayr Hafir is a rural community in its majority.
History
Syrian civil war
During the Syrian civil war, in June 2012, the Free Syrian Army was reported to be in control of the town. The town came under the control of the Islamic State in early 2014, before being retaken by Syrian Government forces during the Dayr Hafir offensive in 2017.[1]
Post-Assad era
On 30 November 2024, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) took control of the town amidst the attack on Aleppo and the subsequent withdrawal of pro-Assad forces.[2] The SDF defended the town against attacks by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and its affiliated militias during Operation Dawn of Freedom and the East Aleppo offensive.[3]
After the March 10 Agreement, clashes around Dayr Hafir ceased for a few months. In August 2025 forces of the Syrian transitional government, and the SDF exchanged artillery fire in small skirmishes near the town.[4]
In January 2026, clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government forces led to government control of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in Aleppo, prompting civilian displacement. The Syrian Army accused the SDF of drone attacks and disrupting water supplies, which the SDF denied.[5] On 13 January, the Syrian Ministry of Defense launched an offensive, declaring Dayr Hafir and Maskanah a military zone and ordering SDF elements to withdraw east of the Euphrates.[6] On 16 January, as part of international efforts to calm the situation after heavy fighting around Aleppo, U.S. military convoy accompanied by SDF leaders toured the contested area around Dayr Hafir and eastern Aleppo, signaling continued U.S. involvement alongside Kurdish‑led forces in monitoring and stabilizing front‑line zones.[7] The SDF withdrew on 17 January, relocating east of the river.[8][9]
References
- ^ "Syrian army captures major IS stronghold in Aleppo". Indo-Asian News Service. The Financial Express. 30 March 2017.
- ^ "After the withdrawal of Iranian militias and regime forces. Kurdish forces deploy in Aleppo International Airport, Nubl and Zahraa and control the checkpoints" (in Arabic). SOHR. 30 November 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ publish (2024-12-10). "SDF Announces Killing of Dozens of Turkey-Backed Militants in Northern Syria". Retrieved 2024-12-24.
- ^ "Iran Update, August 12, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 12 August 2025. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
- ^ "SDF refutes allegations on Aleppo water station". Hawar News Agency. 10 January 2026.
- ^ "Syrian army declares Maskana and Deir Hafer military zone amid clashes with Kurdish forces". Al Jazeera. 13 January 2026.
- ^ "SDF and U.S. military leaders arrive in Deir Hafer amid rising tensions". North Press Agency. 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces withdraw from Aleppo province after clashes". FDD’s Long War Journal. 16 January 2026.
- ^ "Syrian troops sweep northern towns as Kurdish fighters withdraw". Reuters. 17 January 2026.