By Zana al-Ali
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Seven years after the expulsion of the Islamic State (ISIS) from Raqqa Governorate in northern Syria, destruction is still widespread, with nearly every street and neighborhood showing signs of devastation, including collapsed roofs and ruined buildings.
The battle to reclaim Raqqa, the former capital of ISIS’ so-called caliphate, left about 80 percent of the city in ruins.
On Oct. 17, 2017, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the U.S.-led Global Coalition, declared victory over ISIS in Raqqa after a grueling four-month battle. Raqqa, once the de facto capital of ISIS’ self-declared caliphate, had become a symbol of the group’s brutality, with mass executions, public beheadings, and terror imposed on its residents.
The liberation was a turning point in the campaign against ISIS, significantly weakening the group’s territorial control. Since then, Raqqa has been run by the AANES, which has focused on rebuilding the war-torn city and maintaining security to prevent the reemergence of ISIS.
The battle to reclaim Raqqa, the former capital of ISIS’s so-called caliphate, left about 80 percent of the city in ruins. According to Rand Corporation, an estimated 11,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, including hospitals, mosques, schools, and water facilities.
Slow reconstruction
Despite years of liberation, reconstruction has been sluggish. Mustafa al-Shawakh, a building contractor in Raqqa, noted that his team works almost daily, but progress remains slow.
He expressed hope that foreign investment might accelerate rebuilding, as the city still lies 50 percent in ruins.
In May 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury exempted parts of northern Syria from Caesar sanctions to boost rebuilding in sectors such as construction. Yet, residents say that little has changed on the ground.
Rising costs of construction
Muhammad Abdullah, a pseudonym for a local trader, highlighted the major obstacle: the soaring cost of construction materials.
Iron and cement are imported by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), and their rising prices significantly hinder the rebuilding process while reducing workers’ income.
Abdullah explained that locally produced iron comes in two types: “Halabi” iron (from Aleppo), priced at $500 to $600 per ton, and “Arbili” iron (from Erbil), which costs $700 to $800 per ton. Cement is priced at $113 per ton, with price manipulation common during import disruptions.
There are 50 cement traders, six iron smelting factories, and eight iron rolling mills in Raqqa, with an AANES-operated lab ensuring material quality. Abdullah suggested that the AANES allow traders to compete in importing construction materials, similar to the policy that reduced fertilizer prices from $1,000 to $600.
Municipal regulations
Reconstruction efforts also face bureaucratic hurdles. Abdullah pointed out that high municipal fees are an additional challenge, noting that a permit for a four-story building can cost over $3,000.
According to Khalil al-Abu, head of the technical department at the Raqqa Municipality, affiliated with the AANES, permit fees do not exceed 10 percent of project costs, with revenues shared between the municipality and the Engineers’ Syndicate.
Since 2018, over 2,400 new building permits have been issued in Raqqa, while permits for 1,293 destroyed buildings have been approved. Despite these efforts, Raqqa’s real estate market remains stagnant due to high prices, with unfinished apartments sometimes costing upwards of $60,000—an unaffordable sum for many residen