Nubl

Syrian Civil War

Main article: Siege of Nubl and Al-Zahraa

Nubl and al-Zahraa were under siege by the anti-government Free Syrian Army (FSA), al-Nusra Front (al-Qaeda's Syrian branch), and Ahrar al-Sham. Movement out of Nubl was severely curtailed, and it relied on goods being airlifted by the Syrian Army. Although relations between the inhabitants of Nubl and the surrounding villages were normally friendly, during the ongoing Syrian civil war, anti-government supporters from nearby Sunni villages have claimed that Nubl and al-Zahraa hosted pro-government militias that have launched attacks against opposition supporters. There were numerous tit-for-tat kidnappings between Nubl and pro-opposition villages in the vicinity. After months of rebel siege and continuous reciprocal kidnappings, popular committees in the two towns agreed to begin negotiations with Sunni rebels on 27 March 2013. The agreement to negotiate was organised by Kurdish parties from the neighboring Kurd Dagh region, which is controlled by Kurdish fighters of the PYD. The talks were brokered by Kurds, and several kidnapped individuals were freed on both sides.

On 3 February 2016, an offensive by the Syrian Arab Army and Hezbollah ended the siege.

On 30 November 2024, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) took control of the city amidst the attack on Aleppo and the subsequent retreat of pro-government forces, to evacuate Kurdish civilians and IDPs from the Shahba Canton. Afterwards, militants affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took over the city.

References

References

1. [http://www.cbssyr.org/new%20web%20site/General_census/census_2004/NH/TAB02-26-2004.htm General Census of Population and Housing 2004]. [[Central Bureau of Statistics (Syria). Syria Central Bureau of Statistics]] (CBS). Aleppo Governorate. Archived at [https://archive.today/20121209125758/http://www.cbssyr.org/new%20web%20site/General_census/census_2004/NH/TAB02-26-2004.htm]. {{in lang. ar
2. Hendawi, Hamza. [https://news.yahoo.com/syria-sunni-rebels-besiege-shiite-villages-193533327.html In Syria, Sunni rebels besiege Shiite villages]. ''Yahoo News''. Originally published by ''[[Associated Press]]''. 2012-10-18,
3. Landis, Joshua. [http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/?p=16590 Clinton Helps Shape New Syrian Gov in Exile] Syria Comment. 2012-11-01.
4. AFP. (27 March 2013). "Syria Kurds help Shiite, Sunni fighters negotiate". NOW.
5. (3 February 2016). "Hezbollah, Syrian army break rebel siege of northern Shiite towns".
6. (30 November 2024). "After the withdrawal of Iranian militias and regime forces. Kurdish forces deploy in Aleppo International Airport, Nubl and Zahraa and control the checkpoints". SOHR.
7. (2 December 2024). "In harsh humanitarian conditions, tens of thousands of displaced people from Afrin and the people of the Shahba region gathered, waiting to be transferred to the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
8. (2 December 2024). "Mazloum Abdi: Our efforts are continuing to secure a safe exit for the residents of Tal Rifaat and al-Shahba". Rudaw.
9. Farmer, Ben. (14 March 2025). "Syrian rebels capture Aleppo airport as they seize ‘most’ of city". [[The Daily Telegraph]].