Ma'an, Syria

Ma'an
معان
Town
Ma'an is located in Syria
Ma'an
Ma'an
Location in Syria
Coordinates: 35°21′35″N 36°47′45″E / 35.359586°N 36.795702°E / 35.359586; 36.795702
Country Syria
GovernorateHama
DistrictHama
SubdistrictSuran
Population
 (2004)
 • Total1,561
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)

Ma'an (Arabic: معان, also spelled Maan) is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Hama Governorate, located north of Hama. Nearby localities include Suran to the southwest, Murik to the northwest, al-Tamaanah to the north, Atshan to the northeast, Tuleisa to the east, Fan al-Shamali to the southeast and Kawkab to the south. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, Ma'an had a population of 1,561 in the 2004 census.[1] Its inhabitants are predominantly Alawites.[2]

In late December 2012, during the Syrian civil war, Islamist rebel fighters from the al-Nusra Front took over large parts of the town as part of a wider offensive in the Hama Governorate. During the battle, 11 rebels and 20 Syrian Army soldiers were killed.[2] It was the site of the Maan massacre in 2014. On October 13, 2016 the town was liberated by the Syrian Arab Army.[3]

  1. ^ General Census of Population and Housing 2004. Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Hama Governorate. (in Arabic)
  2. ^ a b Jihadists take large part of Syria Alawite village: activists. The Daily Star. Originally published by Agence France-Presse. 2012-12-24.
  3. ^ "Secretary-General, Learning 'with Great Shock' of Reported Massacre in Syria, Strongly Condemns Violence against Civilians". www.un.org (Press release). Archived from the original on 17 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.