Ayn Issa

Ayn Issa عين عيسى
Town
A local walks down the streets of Ayn Issa.
Ayn Issa Location in Syria
Coordinates: 36°23′7″N 38°51′34″E
Country	Syria
Governorate	Raqqa
District	Tell Abyad
Subdistrict	Ayn Issa
Population  (2004 census)
• Town	6,730
• Nahiyah	40,912
Time zone	UTC+3 (AST)
P-Code	C5905
Geocode	SY110202

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Ayn Issa (also Ain Issa; Arabic: عين عيسى, lit. 'Eye of Jesus') is a town in the Tell Abyad District of Raqqa Governorate, Syria. It is located halfway between the Syria–Turkey border town of Tell Abyad and the regional capital Raqqa. Through the city runs the M4 highway connecting Aleppo with the Hasakah Governorate. The town is predominantly Arab, with Kurds comprising approximately 15% of the population.

The town has played a major role as a political center for the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) until 2026. Furthermore, it held significant strategic importance due to its proximity to Raqqa, the former capital of the Islamic State (ISIS), and continues to be strategically relevant as a frontline city in the defense of Kobane following Turkish offensives.