′Ira (Arabic: عرى; also spelled Areh, ′Ara or Ora) is a village in southeastern Syria, administratively part of the as-Suwayda District of the as-Suwayda Governorate, located south of as-Suwayda. In the 2004 census, it had a population of 6,136.^[1] Its inhabitants are predominantly Druze.

Quick Facts عرىAreh, 'Ara, Ora, Grid position ...

'Ira عرى Areh, 'Ara, Ora
Village
'Ira
Coordinates: 32°37′2″N 36°31′53″E
Grid position	294/225
Country	Syria
Governorate	as-Suwayda
District	as-Suwayda
Subdistrict	as-Suwayda
Population  (2004)
• Total	6,136
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

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In 1596 the village appeared under the name of "Timri" in the Ottoman tax registers as part of the nahiya (subdistrict) of Bani Nasiyya in the Qadaa of Hauran. It had a Muslim population consisting of twenty-five households and fourteen bachelors, and a Christian population of five households. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 40% on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, goats and beehives, in addition to occasional revenues; the taxes totaled 16,000 akçe.^[2]

In 1838 'Ira was reported to be populated with Druze and Greek Orthodox Christians.^[3]

'Ira was resettled by Druze migrants in the early 19th century. It was controlled by the Al Hamdan family, who used it as a secondary headquarters. The Al Hamdan were ousted from 'Ira in 1857 by Ismail al-Atrash. This marked the consolidation of Bani al-Atrash supremacy in Jabal Hauran over the Al Hamdan.^[4] Following Ismail's death in 1869, his son Ibrahim became head of the family and was recognized by Rashid Pasha, governor of Damascus, as governor of 'Ira.^[5] His brother succeeded him in 1883 and based himself in 'Ira. The village was attacked by Ruwala tribesmen in 1893 during hostilities between the Bani al-Atrash and the Ottomans. Four residents were killed.^[6]