AlHasakah

Al-Hasakah, also spelled al‑Hasakeh, is the capital city of Al‑Hasakah Governorate in northeastern Syria. It lies on the banks of the Khabur River at an altitude of about 190 m (600 ft) above sea level, and it is the largest urban center in the region. The city’s population has fluctuated significantly due to the Syrian conflict; as of 2018 it was estimated at roughly 190,000 residents, although earlier censuses reported about 170,000 in 2004. Al‑Hasakah serves as a commercial and administrative hub for the surrounding agricultural plain, which produces wheat, barley, and fruit crops.

Historically, the area was settled as a Roman outpost known as *Laodicea in Cappadocia* before becoming a Byzantine bishopric. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was part of the Ottoman Empire’s province of Syria. The modern city grew rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s, aided by the construction of the Al‑Hasakah–Qamishli railway and the development of irrigation projects.

During the Syrian civil war, al‑Hasakah endured indirect fighting and suffered from the spillover of hostilities. In early 2015 it fell under the de facto control of the Kurdish‑led People’s Protection Units (YPG), and subsequent administrative arrangements placed it within the Syrian Democratic Council’s sphere. The city has remained largely stable since then, with gradual reconstruction of infrastructure.

The economy of al‑Hasakah is diversified between agriculture, small-scale industry, and services. Key economic activities include cotton processing, food production, and textile manufacturing. The city also hosts several educational institutions, such as the Al‑Hasakah University, offering programs in engineering, agriculture, and humanities. Cultural life reflects the region’s ethnic diversity, with significant Arab, Assyrian, and Kurdish communities.