Atme

Atme اطمه
Town
Atme
Coordinates: 36°18′40″N 36°41′11″E
Country	Syria
Governorate	Idlib
District	Harem
Subdistrict	Al-Dana
Control	Syrian transitional government
Population  (2004 census)[1]
• Total	2,255
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

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]

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.

In February 2023 the town was hit by the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake, leading to at least 11 deaths.

Incidents

Main article: Atme raid

Quraishi's compound in Atme

IS 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 IS.^[9]

References

1. General Census of Population and Housing 2004 Archived 2012-12-20 at archive.today. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Idlib Governorate. (in Arabic)
2. "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.
3. "Bomb Attack on Atme Camp". Bianet.
4. "Tent cities in northern Syria's Idlib overcrowded". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
5. "Syrians destitute under olive trees after days of bombing |". AW. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
6. "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.
7. 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.
8. "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.
9. "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.