The village was established in 1878–1880 by Kumyk emigrants (muhajirs) from the Northern CaucasianDagestan, settlements of Utamish, Bashlykent and Karabudaghkent, later joined by Kumyks from the Kumyk possession of the Russian Empire and many other Dagestan people.[2] The population consisted of 383 people by 1882 and had grown to 120 families by 1906 (meaning likely 600-800 people).[3] The town had been taken over by the Islamic State by 2014.[4] Russia began launching airstrikes against Islamic State targets in the area on 30 September 2015.[5]