'ayn-al-'arab, Syria

Capital City

Living here means navigating a war-scarred reality where defensive tunnels run 30 meters deep and metal sheeting shields shopping streets from drone attacks. This Kurdish-majority border city of 44,821 residents has become synonymous with resilience and reconstruction after devastating conflict.

The city's modern identity was forged in the crucible of the 2014-2015 ISIS siege that destroyed 70% of its infrastructure and displaced over 200,000 people. Since then, rebuilding efforts have been hampered by a Turkish blockade, though basic services like water and the city's first hospital have been restored. Women-led economic projects, including food processing facilities and agricultural cooperatives, are helping revitalize the local economy despite ongoing security challenges.

Today's Kobani operates under a complex power-sharing arrangement, with Syrian and Russian forces patrolling the streets while local Kurdish authorities maintain civil administration. The ever-present threat of Turkish airstrikes, evidenced by the 2021 bombing of a historic residence, means security remains a daily preoccupation for residents trying to rebuild their lives in this battleground city.