Atme
Atme (Arabic: اطمه, romanized: ‘Aṭma, also spelled Atma, Atima, Atmeh) is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Idlib Governorate, located north of Idlib and just east of the border with Turkey.[2] It lies southeast of Deir Ballut, south of Jindires, northwest of Qah and north of Sarmada and al-Dana. In the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics' 2004 census, it had a population of 2,255.[1]
Atme
اطمه | |
|---|---|
Town | |
  Atme | |
| Coordinates: 36°18′40″N 36°41′11″E | |
| Country |  Syria |
| Governorate | Idlib |
| District | Harem |
| Subdistrict | Al-Dana |
| Control |  Syrian Salvation Government |
| Population (2004 census)[1] | |
| • Total | 2,255 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
History
The Olive Tree Camp is a refugee camp that emerged during the Syrian Civil War. According to Bianet about 80,000 people live in tents in the camp.[3] Since October 2013, internally displaced Syrians who failed to cross over to Turkey started settling between the olive trees. A new wave of refugees was triggered by the Syrian offensive in 2019.[4][5]
A 150-year-old oak tree in Atme was cut down by members of ISIL in November 2013. They accused the locals of venerating the tree instead of God.[6] The town is under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
ISIL leader Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi killed himself during a raid by US special forces on a house in Atme on 3 February 2022.[7] According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, thirteen other people, including seven civilians, died during the raid, which was noted by the media for its intensity.[8]
Many of the local residents were "shocked" about the presence of Quraishi in the town, including Quraishi's landlord, who was unaware that his tenant was the leader of ISIL.[9]
In February 2023 the town was hit by the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake, leading to at least 11 deaths.
References
- General Census of Population and Housing 2004 Archived 2012-12-20 at archive.today. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Idlib Governorate. (in Arabic)
- "Syrians flee to Atme to escape conflict in their towns". Al Arabiya English. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- "Bomb Attack on Atme Camp". Bianet.
- "Tent cities in northern Syria's Idlib overcrowded". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- "Syrians destitute under olive trees after days of bombing |". AW. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- "Un chêne vieux de 150 ans, dernière victime d'el-Qaëda en Syrie". L'Orient le Jour. 23 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
- Schmitt, Eric; Hubbard, Ben (3 February 2022). "Live Updates: Pentagon Leaders Speak After ISIS Leader's Death". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
- "13 killed in rare NW Syria raid by US special forces". France 24. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- "Syrian townfolk shocked that IS leader was a neighbour". France 24. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 3 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
