Merenaz and Malkiyê villages are 30 km to the east of Efrîn and 5 km to the southwest of Azaz. There are over 500 households in Merenaz village and the village has a population of 959, according to 2004 census data. In the Malkiyê village, there are over 200 households.

YPG fighters had liberated these two villages by the villagers’ demand when they liberated the Minix Military Airport by late 2015. The photographs of fighters martyred during the liberation are displayed in the village square.

Both liberated villages are now targeted by the Turkish state’s and their allied gangs’ artillery fire daily. Residents of the two villages have had to move into the refugee camp as they can’t stay in their homes due to artillery fire.

There are no signs of life in either village. Most of the homes have been demolished and the mosque has been targeted.