The city was settled by the Arab tribe of Banu Quda'a around the 3rd century AD. It is built on both sides of the Euphrates river; there are four bridges in the centre of town for crossing between the two sides. The west bank of the city contains the commercial heart of the city, and includes the old town and the Jewish quarter, "agd al yahood". The west bank is the site of the covered market "Suq Al Masgoof", which dates to the Ottoman period. The area surrounding the market is the old city with its Byzantine maze of crowded markets and streets.