Nearby localities include al-Shaykh Saad and Nawa to the north, Muzayrib, Da'el and Tafas to the northeast, and al-Yadudah to the east.

Furthermore, a stele from Seti I, was discovered in 1900 by George Adam Smith at the tell confirming that it was one of the sites conquered by the Egyptian king during his campaigns in the region.

[3][4] The stele, missing the lower part, was built into the wall of a local house, and shows Seti I with Amun-Ra and Mut.

[9] In the early 20th-century, the sheikhs of Tell Shihab belonged to a powerful family in the area and relative prosperity of the town allowed them to accumulate large amounts of wealth.

"[10] During the current anti-government uprising in Syria, opposition rebels gained control of Tell Shihab and it has since been used as a major crossing point for Syrian refugees fleeing to Jordan.