Morek Explained

Morek (ar|مورك, also spelled Murik, Mork, or Murak) is a Syrian town located in the Suran Subdistrict in Hama District. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Morek had a population of 14,307 in the 2004 census.^[2]

Morek is the center of the country's pistachio production.^[3] Through Morek, passes the M5 highway which connects Hama with Aleppo.^[4]

History

In 1838, its inhabitants were noted to be predominantly Sunni Muslims.^[5]

Syrian Civil War

During the Syrian civil war the city was the site of the Battle of Morek. By 2018 it was under the control of Hayat Tahrir al Sham and had become the sight of an important crossing point from rebel held areas into those held by the Syrian government.^[6] On August 12, 2018 the Syrian Arab Army closed that crossing in preparation for their assault on rebel held territory in the region. The Turkish government had also deployed special forces to Morek in preparation for the SAA's anticipated advance on the Idlib region.^[7] The anticipated advance was averted by a de-militarization agreement signed between Russia and Turkey in September 2018. By May 2019 a group called Jaysh al-Izza^[8] was stationed in the city and was refusing to allow Russian patrols within the demilitarized zone.

On 20 August, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the rebel and Islamic factions including jihadi groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had completely withdrawn from Morek in the northern countryside of Hama.^[9] Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that the Turkish troops were staying at the Turkish observation post in Morek.^[10]

Turkey withdrew from its base in Morek on 19 October 2020.^[11] On 30 November 2024, HTS rebels captured the city from the Syrian Army during the Hama offensive.^{[12] [13]}

Bibliography

• Book: Robinson. E.. Edward Robinson (scholar). Smith. E.. Eli Smith. 1841. Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. Boston. Crocker & Brewster. 3.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Syrian opposition forces say all of Idlib province under their control. Al Arabiya. 30 November 2024. en. 2024-11-30.
2. Web site: General Census of Population 2004.. 2014-07-10.
3. Web site: World Not Going Nuts for Syrian Pistachios.
4. Web site: Rebels take key north Hama town on M5 highway. Syria Direct. 5 November 2015. en. 2019-09-07.
5. [Eli Smith|Smith]
6. News: Syrian military closes strategic crossings in preparation for Hama offensive. Aboufadel. Leith. 2018-08-12. AMN.
7. News: Cards Held by Turkey in Idlib. Enab Baladi. September 13, 2018.
8. News: From the West, Battles Draw a New Map for Idlib. May 13, 2019. Enab Baladi. May 17, 2019.
9. Web site: Fearing to fall in a complete siege, the factions and jihadi groups withdraw from Khan Shaykhun city and towns and villages south of it in the northern countryside of Hama. 20 August 2019. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. ar.
10. Web site: Syrian army captures Hama rebel pocket in northwest - state media. swissinfo.ch. S. W. I.. Corporation. a branch of the Swiss Broadcasting. SWI swissinfo.ch. en. 2019-09-07.
11. Web site: Turkey withdraws from base in northwest Syria, sources say. https://web.archive.org/web/20201020195127/https://ca.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-turkey-idCAKBN27428Y. dead. October 20, 2020. Reuters. 19 October 2020.
12. Web site: Syrian army withdraws from Hama as rebels push toward Homs . Türkiye Today . 30 November 2024.
13. News: "The Authority" controls Aleppo International Airport and many cities and towns in the northern Hama countryside amid a complete collapse of the regime forces . 30 November 2024 . SOHR . 30 November 2024 . Arabic.