Zengid dynasty
The Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik camped in the valley in the winter of 689–690 in preparation of a confrontation with Mus'ab ibn al-Zubayr of Iraq. In 901, it was sacked by the Qarmatians. In 966, it was ravaged by Nikephoros II Phokas. Later on, Kilabi chief Abu Za'ida led a tribal coalition in the region which defeated Seljuk reinforcements to Tutush I who was besieging Aleppo during the reign of Sabiq ibn Mahmud of the Mirdasid dynasty in 1080. However, Seljuk revenge led to the extermination of the Ismaili community. In 1098, it was attacked by the Armenians. The lord of Tell Bashir, Jocelin, devastated the region in 1125. In 1138, it was occupied by the Byzantine emperor John II Komnenos. It was later captured by Nur ad-Din of the Zengid dynasty.