Arbin ( ar, عربين; also spelled Irbin or Arbeen) is a town in southern
Syria, administratively part of the
Markaz Rif Dimashq District of the
Rif Dimashq Governorate
Rif Dimashq Governorate ( ar, محافظة ريف دمشق, ', literally, the "Governorate of the Countryside of Damascus", Damascus Suburb) is one of the fourteen governorates (provinces) of Syria. It is situated in the southwestern part of the ...
, located just east of
Jobar neighborhood of
Damascus. Nearby localities include
Kafr Batna and
Saqba
Saqba ( ar, سقبا; also spelled Sakba or Siqba) is a town in southern Syria, administratively part of the Markaz Rif Dimashq District of the Rif Dimashq Governorate, 7 km east of central Damascus. Nearby localities include Jisrin to the ...
to the south,
Zamalka and
Ein Tarma to the southwest, and
Douma to the north. According to the
Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Arbin had a population of 44,934 in the 2004 census.
[General Census of Population and Housing 2004](_blank)
Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Rif Dimashq Governorate. Arbin is one of the suggested locations for the ancient town of
Riblah.
During the
Syrian civil war,
FSA took control of a number of
suburbs north of the capital
Damascus, including Arbin on 2 July 2012. FSA fighters reportedly openly patrolled the streets of the suburbs, and clashes occurred less than from the center of Damascus city itself.
In November 2012, there was sustained fighting in the town after a
regain in strength of the rebels in Rif Dimashq. It was reported to be under rebel control as of 7 December 2012.
In 2017-18, during the government siege of eastern Ghouta, Arbin was one of the towns targeted in multiple airstrikes by Syrian and Russian aircraft, for instance on 4 January 2018.
In the end of March 2018, the Syrian army imposed their control over the area of Eastern Ghouta including Arbin.
References
{{Rif Dimashq Governorate, markaz
Populated places in Markaz Rif Dimashq District
Towns in Syria