Ar-Rastan

Al-Rastan (Arabic: الرستن‎) is one of the largest cites in the Homs Governorate and is situated 20 kilometers (12 mi) north of the capital city of Homs and 22 kilometers (14 mi) from Hama. It is in the centre of the densely populated areas of Syria. Al-Rastan has one of the oldest dams which can contain 225 million m³ of Orontes River river. It is the site of the ancient Arethusa. Al Rastan was the site of sustained bombardment by Syrian government troops during the 2011 Syrian uprising,Witnesses said that troops, backed by tanks and helicopters, moved into Rastan on 27 September after hitting the town overnight with heavy gunfire. A lieutenant who defected to the Free Syrian Army told Al Jazeera by satellite phone that 400 tanks had...