Al-Qamishli
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Al-Qamishli is a city in the Syrian Desert, on the border with Turkey, facing the city of Nusaybin on the Turkish side of the border.
Understand
Al-Qamishli was founded in the 1920s by Assyrian peoples escaping a genocide inflicted upon them by the Ottoman Empire. Today, it is home to a large Kurdish minority, which is partly why the self-declared Kurdish autonomous region Rojava has made it their capital, taking advantage of the instability resulting from Syria's ongoing civil war. Parts of the city, including the airport, are still controlled by the central government. This uneasy coexistence has faltered several times in recent years, resulting in deadly skirmishes.
Get in
SyrianAir offers a daily flight from Damascus.
Qamishli Airport
As of 2018, the border with Turkey is closed, and all other land routes remain extremely dangerous.
There used to be passenger trains to Al-Qamishli, but all services are cancelled since 2012.
See
Farouk Mosque
- Camiya Qasimo Mosque
- St. George's Church
- School of Nisibis (ruins)
Learn
The University of Rojava is here, but due to the current civil war, it is unclear whether it will remain in its current state for long.
Buy
- Safety Perfumes
- Island Gas Station
- Oscar Sweets
- There is also a traditional Syrian vegetable market.
Eat
Stay safe
See the warning in the Syria article.