Jarabulus, Syria

Jarabulus is a city in the Aleppo Governorate of Syria, situated on the western bank of the Euphrates and north of Lake Assad. It is just south of the Syria-Turkey border and the Turkish town of Karkamış, and has a population of approximately 11,570. Historically, the city was known as Europos in Greek and Roman times and was an important border town with Turkey following the Treaty of Lausanne after World War I. Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, Jarabulus has been under the control of various opposition groups and was captured by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in 2013. In 2016, Turkey launched Operation Euphrates Shield, which resulted in the Syrian National Army recapturing the city. Today, the city is mostly composed of Arabs and Turkmens and is governed by a local council. The education system has been reinstated and Turkish is now taught as a foreign language in schools. Despite its turbulent past, Jarabulus is a city with a rich history and a unique blend of cultures that is sure to captivate any traveler.