Upon returning to their homes in Syria following the conflict, many internally displaced Syrians have encountered their properties occupied by others, including foreign combatants. This situation presents a significant challenge for the country's post-conflict recovery and the return of its population.
The Syrian civil war, which commenced in 2011, led to the displacement of an estimated 7.4 million Syrians within the country, with an additional 6 million seeking refuge abroad. Following the ousting of the previous regime in December, some Syrians began returning to their former residences.
Property Occupation Incidents
Abdallah Ibrahim, a 65-year-old resident of Al Ghassaniyeh village, was among those who returned to find his family home occupied by foreign fighters. These individuals, some of whom did not speak Arabic, had also taken over parts of his olive groves. Women wearing full black niqabs were also present in the home. Similar accounts were reported across Syria, where abandoned properties were settled by Syrian rebel fighters and foreign Islamist fighters from various countries, including Chechnya, Uzbekistan, Morocco, and thousands of ethnic Uyghurs.
According to Jalaldeen, the deputy commander of a Uyghur force, their commanders granted permission to occupy these homes, citing their contributions to the "liberation" of areas. Bilal, a Uyghur fighter, stated their intention to vacate properties if the original owners returned, acknowledging Syria's diverse population.
Challenges and Resolution Efforts
The presence of foreign fighters, particularly among minority groups like Christians and Shiites, generated apprehension. Denise Khoury, 75, reported finding foreign fighters in her mother's house in Jisr al-Shughur.
Efforts to address property restitution began prior to the end of the war. In 2022, a Christian parish engaged with then-militia leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who became Syria's president in 2024. Al-Sharaa reportedly affirmed the rights of Christians to reclaim their properties. Louay Bisharat, a priest involved in these meetings, stated that discussions with Asaad al-Shaibani, now Syria's foreign minister, led to the recovery of some churches and lands from rebel occupation in 2024.
Zikwan Hajji Hamud, a real estate agent in Jisr al-Shughur, noted complications arising from unofficial property sales and transactions during the conflict. The issue of compensating occupiers for new structures built on occupied land also posed difficulties.
Fadi Azar, a Roman Catholic priest assisting Christian communities, facilitated negotiations for the return of olive groves. An agreement was reached where, until an October deadline following the autumn harvest, occupiers would receive two-thirds of the harvest, and the owner one-third.
Resolution in Al Ghassaniyeh
In November, Abdallah Ibrahim confirmed that all land and houses in Al Ghassaniyeh had been returned to their original owners. The village marked this occasion with public celebrations. While some buildings sustained damage during the war, their owners are now able to commence reconstruction efforts.