Raid in Damascus’ Sumeriya tears up residents’ property papers، arrests two
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Residents of the Sumeriya neighborhood in western Damascus reported on Thursday that an armed group entered the area, raiding homes belonging to Alawite families. Two young men were arrested and transferred to a nearby security post, according to eyewitness accounts shared with North Press.
Neighbors said the assailants destroyed property documents that families had obtained legally years ago from Damascus governorate offices. “They tore up ownership papers that we’ve held for decades,” one resident said, requesting anonymity.
No official comment has been released by the Syrian Ministry of Interior regarding the incident as of the time of publication.
The raid comes as part of a series of tensions in the area that began on 8 July, when entrances to Sumeriya near the local bus garage were closed. Authorities reportedly gave approximately 300 families a 72-hour notice to vacate, while shop owners were prohibited from opening their businesses.
Residents emphasized that they legally own their homes and that forced eviction is not permissible under law. Many families have lived in the neighborhood for decades, including government employees and retired military personnel.
On the other hand, a well-informed source residing in a neighborhood adjacent to Sumeriya told North Press that these families were settled in the area during the presidency of former Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, approximately 50 years ago, as part of an effort to establish an ‘Alawite belt’ around Damascus, according to the source.
In response to Thursday’s raid, the “Supreme Alawite Islamic Council in Syria and Abroad” condemned the “blatant violations” in Sumeriya. The council called for international intervention and placed responsibility on the transitional Syrian government.