The Olive Tree Camp is a refugee camp that emerged during the Syrian Civil War. According to Bianet, about 80,000 people live in tents in the camp.[3] Since October 2013, internally displaced Syrians who failed to cross over to Turkey started settling between the olive trees. A new wave of refugees was triggered by the Syrian offensive in 2019.[4][5]
A 150-year-old oak tree in Atme was cut down by members of ISIS in November 2013. They accused the locals of venerating the tree instead of God.[6] The town was under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham until its disbandment following the Fall of the Assad Regime.
Many of the local residents were "shocked" about the presence of Quraishi in the town, including Quraishi's landlord, who was unaware that his tenant was the leader of IS.[9]
