Local sources reported that militants of Syrian factions loyal to Turkey, who have become part of the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Temporary Authority, continue to control houses belonging to Kurdish residents in Afrin, northern Syria, despite the return of numbers of displaced persons to their areas after long years of forced displacement.
These developments coincide with the return of the latest convoys of displaced Kurds from the east of the Euphrates regions to Afrin, within the framework of the return operations that commenced since the beginning of 2026, following the announced understandings between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Temporary Authority.
According to the sources, hundreds of Kurdish citizens who returned to their homes after a displacement that lasted for more than eight years were surprised by the continued seizure of their homes and properties by elements of the armed factions loyal to Turkey, and their failure to evacuate or hand them over to their legitimate owners.
The sources added that a number of returnees filed complaints with the competent authorities and committees formed to look into property restitution cases. However, according to the received testimonies, these entities were unable to take effective measures to ensure the return of houses to their owners or to put an end to the ongoing seizures.
Information also indicated the documentation of cases of vandalism and theft affecting a number of houses belonging to the indigenous Kurdish residents prior to being evacuated and returned to their owners, causing additional material losses to the returnees after years of displacement.
Convoys of displaced Kurds had begun returning to the Afrin region following the agreement announced between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the current Syrian authority led by Ahmed Al-Sharaa on January 29, 2026. However, local reports still speak of the continued presence of settlers inside some houses belonging to the indigenous population.
These events bring back to the forefront the file of violations related to housing and property rights in the Afrin region, including the seizure of Kurdish civilians’ homes and depriving them of the enjoyment of their property, as well as the material damage caused to a number of real estate properties, in the absence of effective mechanisms for accountability, redress, and restitution of rights.
Since Turkish forces and Syrian factions loyal to them took control of the predominantly Kurdish region of Afrin on March 18, 2018, human rights organizations and local reports have documented a wide series of violations against the Kurdish population, including cases of killing, abduction, torture, imposition of levies, and seizure of property, coinciding with the displacement of large numbers of the indigenous population.
Following the takeover, the region also witnessed settlement operations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) coming from other Syrian regions inside houses belonging to the displaced residents of Afrin, which raised repeated allegations of demographic change in the region.
Rights Monitor Syria demands the necessity of ensuring a voluntary, safe, and dignified return for the displaced, the restitution of property to its legitimate owners, the opening of independent investigations into violations related to property and housing rights, and holding those responsible accountable in accordance with international human rights standards.
