Nearby localities include Mayadin and al-Asharah to the east, al-Taybah and Raqqa to the north, Salamiyah to the west, Arak and Tadmur (Palmyra) to the southwest.

[6] In 1225, al-Sukhnah was described by Arab geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi as "a small town in the Syrian Desert, lying between Tadmur and 'Urd and Arak.

[7] Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, al-Sukhnah served as an important trade center in the Syrian Desert among the inhabitants of nearby villages and various Bedouin tribes.

Unlike most Bedouin groups, the 'Anizzah did not maintain economic relations with the inland villages of Syria and their trade with al-Sukhnah was unique.

The 'Anizzah would trade camels, horses, alkali ashes and leather while merchants from al-Sukhnah marketed wheat, clothing, arms and utensils.

[5] Until the present day, al-Sukhnah continues to function as a trading center between its residents and the tribes in its vicinity, such as the 'Umur and the Sba'a,[4] two sub-branches of the 'Anizzah.

On 6 August 2017, government forces recaptured the town in the Central Syria offensive; this left the road open to the besieged city of Deir ez-Zor.