# Al-Rai, Syria > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Al-Rai%2C_Syria > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Al-Rai%2C_Syria.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Rai%2C_Syria > Source revision: 1341710076 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Infobox settlement | name = Al-Rai | native_name = الراعي | native_name_lang = ar | other_name = | type = Town | pushpin_map = Syria | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = 250 | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Al-Rai in Syria | coordinates = {{coord|region:SY-HL|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{SYR}} | subdivision_type1 = [Governorate](/source/Governorates_of_Syria) | subdivision_name1 = [Aleppo](/source/Aleppo_Governorate) | subdivision_type2 = [District](/source/Districts_of_Syria) | subdivision_name2 = [al-Bab](/source/al-Bab_District) | subdivision_type3 = [Subdistrict](/source/Nahiyah) | subdivision_name3 = [al-Rai](/source/Nahiya_al-Rai) | elevation_m = | population_total = 4,609 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_as_of = 2004 | population_footnotes = {{#tag:ref|{{cite web |title=2004 Census Data for ''Nahiya al-Rai''|url=http://www.cbssyr.sy/new%20web%20site/General_census/census_2004/NH/TAB02-28-2004.htm |publisher=Syrian [Central Bureau of Statistics](/source/Central_Bureau_of_Statistics_(Syria)) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131837/http://www.cbssyr.sy/new%20web%20site/General_census/census_2004/NH/TAB02-28-2004.htm |archive-date=2016-03-04 |language=ar }} Also available in English: {{cite web |author=UN OCHA |author-link=United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |title=2004 Census Data |url=https://data.humdata.org/dataset/syrian-arab-republic-other-0-0-0-0-0-0-0 |publisher=Humanitarian Data Exchange }}|name=census2004}} | timezone = [EET](/source/Eastern_European_Time) | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = [EEST](/source/Eastern_European_Summer_Time) | utc_offset_DST = +3 | geocode = C1250 | website = | official_name = }} '''Al-Rai''' ({{langx|ar|الراعي}}, ''al-Ra'i'' or ''al-Rayi''; {{langx|tr|Çobanbey}}), is a small town in northern [Aleppo Governorate](/source/Aleppo_Governorate), northern [Syria](/source/Syria). With 4,609 inhabitants, as per the 2004 census, al-Rai is the administrative center of the sparsely populated [Nahiya al-Rai](/source/Nahiya_al-Rai). Located on the [Istanbul](/source/Istanbul)-[Baghdad Railway](/source/Baghdad_Railway) and close to the [Turkish border](/source/Syria%E2%80%93Turkey_border), right across [Elbeyli](/source/Elbeyli), it is however a strategically important village. The town of [Akhtarin](/source/Akhtarin), some {{convert|15|km|sp=us}} to the southwest. Larger towns are [Azaz](/source/Azaz), some {{convert|35|km|sp=us}} to the west, and [Jarablus](/source/Jarablus) and [Manbij](/source/Manbij), both some {{convert|45|km|sp=us}} to the east. Prior to the [Syrian Civil War](/source/Syrian_Civil_War), the town was inhabited primarily by [Turkmen](/source/Syrian_Turkmen).Günümüzde [Suriye Türkmenleri](/source/Syrian_Turkmen) {{in lang|tr}} - [https://web.archive.org/web/20151005153702/http://www.orsam.org.tr/tr/trUploads/Yazilar/Dosyalar/2013320_83t.pdf Suriye’de Değişimin Ortaya Çıkardığı Toplum: Suriye Türkmenleri.] ORSAM Rapor № 83. ORSAM – Ortadoğu Türkmenleri Programı Rapor № 14. Ankara — November 2011. These Turkmens belong to the [Elbegli](/source/Elbegli) tribe.{{cite web |last1=Pürlü |first1=Kadir |title=Sivaslıların yarısını ilgilendiren bir konu! İlbeyli Aşireti |url=https://www.buyuksivas.com/ilbeyli-asireti/ |access-date=13 January 2023}} == Railway == The Al-Rai Railway Border Gate which had been closed since 1981, was reopened on 22 December 2009 after the 62 km line between Aleppo and Al-Rai was renewed. The opening ceremony was attended by the transport ministers of Turkey and Syria, [Binali Yıldırım](/source/Binali_Y%C4%B1ld%C4%B1r%C4%B1m) and [Yaarub Bader](/source/Yaarub_Bader).{{cite web |title=Turkey / Syria: the 3rd Railway Border Gate has opened |publisher=[International Union of Railways](/source/International_Union_of_Railways) |work=UIC eNews |number=167 |url=http://www.uic.org/com/uic-e-news/167/article/turkey-syria-the-3rd-railway?page=thickbox_enews |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=28 August 2016 |archive-date=14 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014030143/http://www.uic.org/com/uic-e-news/167/article/turkey-syria-the-3rd-railway?page=thickbox_enews |url-status=dead }} == Education == {{Expand section|date=February 2021}} === Education under Turkish occupation (2016–present) === On 3 February 2021, a [shoemaking](/source/shoemaking) and [tailor](/source/tailor)ing workshop for prisoners was established in collaboration between Turkish-Dutch [NGO](/source/Non-governmental_organization) Sumud and [Turkey's Ministry of Youth and Sports](/source/Ministry_of_Youth_and_Sports_(Turkey)).{{Cite web | url = https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/shoe-making-tailoring-workshop-established-in-syrias-north/news | title = Shoe-making, tailoring workshop established in Syria's north | work = [Daily Sabah](/source/Daily_Sabah) | date = 3 February 2021 | access-date = 12 February 2021}} On 6 February 2021, ''[Official Gazette of Turkey](/source/T.C._Resm%C3%AE_Gazete)'' announced Turkey's plan to open a new [health care](/source/health_care) [vocational school](/source/vocational_school) and a [medical faculty](/source/medical_faculty) in Al-Rai.{{Cite web | url = https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2021/02/20210206-21.pdf | title = Presidential Decision | work = [T.C. Resmî Gazete](/source/T.C._Resm%C3%AE_Gazete) | date = 6 February 2021 | access-date = 11 February 2021 | language = tr}}{{Cite web | url = https://www.arabnews.com/node/1805511/middle-east | title = Turkey to open schools in war-torn Syria | work = [Arab News](/source/Arab_News) | date = 8 February 2021 | access-date = 11 February 2021}} [Syrian Foreign Ministry](/source/Ministry_of_Foreign_Affairs_and_Expatriates_(Syria)) expressed their objection through Syria's official news agency [SANA](/source/Syrian_Arab_News_Agency), and named the decision "a dangerous act and a flagrant violation of international law".{{Cite web | url = http://sana.sy/en/?p=221167 | title = Syria rejects Turkish regime decision to open faculty and institute in al-Raei town, northern Aleppo | publisher = [Syrian Arab News Agency](/source/Syrian_Arab_News_Agency) | date = 7 February 2021 | access-date = 11 February 2021}} ==Syrian Civil War== {{Main|Northern Aleppo offensive (March–June 2016)|Battle of al-Rai (August 2016)}}In the [Syrian Civil War](/source/Syrian_Civil_War), al-Rai was captured by [Free Syrian Army](/source/Free_Syrian_Army) (FSA) forces in July 2012 and held until early February 2014, when the FSA-allies the [Al-Tawhid Brigade](/source/Al-Tawhid_Brigade) and [Conquest Brigade](/source/Conquest_Brigade) were assaulted by a predominantly [Chechen](/source/Chechens) unit of the [Islamic State](/source/Islamic_State), (IS) which seized the town on 3 February 2014.{{cite book |author=Charles R. Lister |title=The Syrian Jihad: Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Evolution of an Insurgency |year=2015 |publisher=[Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_University_Press)|isbn=9780190462475 |url={{Google books|S6eKCwAAQBAJ|p=203|plainurl=y}} |page=203}} Since then, the [Islamic State](/source/Islamic_State) considered the town its main stronghold in the Aleppo countryside.{{cite news |title=Turkish military hits Daesh position in Syria |newspaper=[Yeni Şafak](/source/Yeni_%C5%9Eafak) |url=http://www.yenisafak.com/en/world/turkish-military-hits-daesh-position-in-syria-2449626 |date=11 April 2016 |access-date=28 August 2016}} In the course of their [Northern Aleppo offensive](/source/Northern_Aleppo_offensive_(March%E2%80%93June_2016)), [FSA](/source/Free_Syrian_Army) units captured the town twice in April 2016 and in June 2016, but both times were not able to withstand counterattacks by the Islamic State. The FSA, supported by [Turkey](/source/Turkey), recaptured the town a third time in the August 2016 [Battle of al-Rai](/source/Battle_of_al-Rai_(August_2016)), but lost it yet another time to an [Islamic State](/source/Islamic_State) counterattack later in August.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-recaptures-syrian-border-town-al-rai-after-defeat-jarablus-by-turkish-backed-rebels-1578339|title=Isis recaptures Syrian border town al-Rai after defeat in Jarablus by Turkish-backed rebels|last=Keating|first=Fiona|date=27 August 2016|website=International Business Times|access-date=2016-08-28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-recaptures-al-rai-following-massive-attack/|title=ISIS recaptures Al-Rai following massive attack|last=Charkatli|first=Izat|date=27 August 2016|website=Al-Masdar News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-28|archive-date=2016-08-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827174552/https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-recaptures-al-rai-following-massive-attack/|url-status=dead}} On 3 September 2016, rebels were reported to have recaptured the town for the fourth time with the help of Turkish forces (including tanks) and to have seized several villages close by.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-turkey-idUSKCN1190GT|title=Turkish tanks roll into Syria, opening new line of attack|last=Umit|first=Ozdal|date=2016-09-04|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=2016-10-03}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-37541058|title=Syrian rebels advance on symbolic IS-held town of Dabiq|date=2016-10-03|newspaper=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-10-03}} [Syrian Turkmen Brigades](/source/Syrian_Turkmen_Brigades)' political wing [Syrian Turkmen Assembly](/source/Syrian_Turkmen_Assembly) announced the relocation of its headquarters into Al-Rai on 31 December 2019, which was previously located in [Istanbul](/source/Istanbul), Turkey.{{Cite web | url = https://npasyria.com/en/38473/ | title = Turkmen Council moves its office into Syria | publisher = North Press Agency | date = 2 January 2020 | access-date = 12 February 2021}} == Gallery == Al-Rayi nahiyah.svg|''al-Rai'' is the administrative center of [Nahiya al-Rai](/source/Nahiya_al-Rai) of the [Al-Bab District](/source/Al-Bab_District) Çobanbey_(Al-Rai)_Council.jpg|Al-Rai Council of [Syrian Turkmen Assembly](/source/Syrian_Turkmen_Assembly) == See also == * [Talal Silo](/source/Talal_Silo), [Syrian Democratic Forces](/source/Syrian_Democratic_Forces) commander originating from Al-Rai ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Cities of Syria}} {{Aleppo Governorate|Al-Bab}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rai}} Category:Turkmen settlements in Aleppo Governorate Category:Populated places in al-Bab District --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Al-Rai, Syria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Rai%2C_Syria) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Rai%2C_Syria?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.