Located three kilometres south-east of Shim'a, it falls under the jurisdiction of Har Hevron Regional Council.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank, like Asa'el, illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.

[1] Although built on what the Israeli government claims to be state lands, access roads to the settlement goes over private land owned by Palestinians.

[2] [3] The settlement was established in early 2002 as an outpost, and was named after Biblical Asahel from the time of King David (2 Samuel 2:18).

[5] The outpost was officially recognized by the Israeli government in September 2023.