An assault targeting Kurdish civilians returning to the village of Kendal, located in the countryside of Tal Abyad (Gire Spi) in northern Raqqa Governorate, Syria, has raised growing concerns regarding the security and safety of Kurdish residents wishing to return to their areas of origin after years of displacement and forced eviction.
According to available information, on June 14, 2026, a number of Kurdish civilians were subjected to an assault by members of Arab tribes loyal to the temporary authority and armed factions backed by Turkey operating in the region, following the return of Kurdish families to Kendal village. One of the victims of the assault reported in a video recording that the attackers assaulted them and destroyed their vehicle.
Local data indicates that the assault was motivated by the victims’ ethnic background, raising concerns that Kurdish returnees may face acts of discrimination or targeting based on national identity.
Local sources had previously documented another assault on March 12, 2026, in the city of Tal Abyad (Gire Spi), where a vehicle belonging to a Kurdish citizen, Khalil Mirza, was attacked upon his entry into the city.
Over the past years, the regions of Tal Abyad (Gire Spi) and Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ayn) have witnessed widespread displacement affecting the Kurdish population, following the takeover of the two areas by Turkish-backed armed factions. These developments were accompanied by multiple reports of looting and seizing private property belonging to local residents.
With increasing discussions regarding a potential return of the Kurdish population to their areas of origin—following recent agreements between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian Transitional Government—fears are escalating over attempts to incite security tensions or obstruct the return of civilians, which could undermine their right to a safe and voluntary return to their homes.
Furthermore, areas in the countryside of Kobani (Ain al-Arab) in Aleppo Governorate, and others in the countryside of Raqqa in northern Syria, are witnessing a significant escalation in attacks and violations targeting Kurdish civilians and their properties. This coincides with intensifying incitement campaigns and hate speech across certain media platforms loyal to the authority in Damascus.
