Located about 30 kilometers east of Manbij in eastern Aleppo province, the fortress, Qal’at Najm, sits on the western bank of the Euphrates River, with water surrounding it from three sides.
Historians say the site gained military importance during the medieval Islamic period and was heavily fortified under the Zengid and Ayyubid dynasties in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The citadel includes long stone passageways, interconnected chambers, a mosque and a deep well carved into rock to provide water during sieges.
Its elevated position offered sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, making it a strategic military outpost for controlling movement along the Euphrates corridor.
Today, Qal’at Najm remains one of Syria’s notable historical landmarks and an example of medieval military architecture in the region.
R.A/ABD
