Al-Rastan

Government

Rastan (Arabic الرستن, DMG ar - Rastan ) is the third largest city in the province of Homs and is located 20 km north of the capital city, Homs, and 22 kilometers away from Hama. It is located in the center of the populated areas of Syria. Neighboring towns are Talbiseh and al - Ghantoo in the south, al - Zaafaraniya and al - Maschrafa the southeast, Tumin in the north, Deir al - Fardis in the northwest and the villages of Kafr Nan cluster and Hula in the West.

Rastan includes the site of the city of Arethusa from the Roman era, and still contains some of its ancient ruins. There was continued during more than a relatively small but strategic town during the entire Islamic, as well as the Ottoman era. Since the beginning of the civil war from 2011 Rastan served as the main opposition stronghold and has since been a place of fierce fighting between the security forces and the insurgent rebels of the Free Syrian Army.

Rastan is located directly south of the bridge, Homs and Hama connects. Rastan has one of the oldest dams - the Rastan dam - which can contain 225 million cubic meters of water from the Nahr al - Asi. The dam is especially important for agricultural irrigation. Rastan also includes a main of Syria marl quarries.