Al Hasakah, (also spelled as Al Hasakeh), is a city in the north eastern part of Syrian Kurdistan (also known as Rojava). Al Hasakah is the capital city of the Al Hasakah Governorate, and part of the Cizre (Jizira) Canton.
The population of Al Hasakah is around 200,000, and is made up of a majority of Kurds and Arabs, while its minorities are Syriacs, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Armenians.
History of Al Hasakah
There are several prehistoric settlements surrounding the region, but modern settlement didn’t happen until a French outpost was established in 1922. After the Armenian genocide, many Armenians refugees who had been expelled from the Ottoman Empire took refuge in the area. The city was developed throughout the 20’s and 30’s, with the help of French troops, who were stationed in the area.
By 1942, there were 7,835 inhabitants in the area. By the early 1950’s, Al Hasakah became the administrative capital of the region. Irrigation innovation in the 1960’s brought an economic boom to the area, and the region was known for its cotton production. Oil exploration of northeastern Syria in the 1970’s continued the trend of economic prosperity.
Syrian Army, YPG and ISIS
Al Hasakah has been a center of contention throughout the Syrian Civil War. Recent clashes between the Syrian Army and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) have been complicated by the advance of ISIS on the city.
