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Der'a
Arabic: darcā
Other spellings: Dar'a, Dera
Town in southwestern Syria with 80,000 inhabitants (2004 estimate), the chief town of the Hawran region.
The economic base for Der'a is the agriculture of the surrounding region, which specializes in wheat and barley. Der'a is the market town for its area, and has also a garrison.
Der'a is connected with other urban centres, as it is located both on railway and with road connection to many towns. It is located 10 km from the Jordanian border, Damascus is 120 km north, Suweida 50 km northeast.
Der'a has some ruins from the Greco-Roman period, like a theatre, but it is mainly in rubble. There is also an Ayyubid mosque built in 1253, partly built with material from the Roman theatre.
HISTORY
636: The important Battle of the Yarmuk River is fought near the location of modern Der'a. This battle secured Muslim Arab control over the former Byzantine territory of Syria.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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