QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The eighth and final convoy of displaced Kurdish residents from Afrin, northwestern Syria, arrived in their hometown on Wednesday, marking the end of one of Syria’s longest displacement crises and enabling thousands of families to return home after nearly nine years away.
The convoy, which departed from Qamishli in northeastern Syria, included approximately 1,600 families and was the largest since organized returns began earlier this year. Its arrival brings the total number of returning families to about 8,720, according to local officials overseeing the return process.
The returns follow major political changes in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024 and subsequent efforts by Syrian authorities and local administrations to facilitate the voluntary return of displaced populations across the country.
Tens of thousands of Kurdish families fled Afrin in 2018 during Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch and settled in displacement camps and communities across Hasakah Governorate and other areas of northeastern Syria.
Since March, authorities have organized a series of return convoys. The first convoy, consisting of around 400 families, departed on March 9, followed by additional groups in April and May as preparations continued for large-scale returns.
Ahmad al-Hilali, spokesperson for Syria’s presidential team overseeing the implementation of the agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), previously told North Press that security and humanitarian measures had been put in place along the route to ensure the safe and voluntary return of displaced families.
“We will accompany the displaced until they reach their homes,” al-Hilali said at the launch of the first convoy, noting that relief organizations, emergency teams, and civil defense units had been mobilized to support the process.
The return operation comes months after an agreement signed on January 29 between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi aimed at addressing key national issues, including security coordination, the reintegration of state institutions, and facilitating the return of displaced Syrians to their areas of origin.
Mahmoud Khalil Ali, known as Siyamand Afrin and deputy commander of the Internal Security Forces in Hasakah Governorate, described the completion of the convoy operation as a historic milestone.
“Today, we stand before a historic moment that closes one of the most painful chapters of displacement endured by the people of Afrin,” he said in a statement.
Ali said approximately 1,300 families remain in northeastern Syria due to school and personal commitments, adding that arrangements are expected to be made for their return after the academic year ends.
He thanked President Ahmad al-Sharaa and SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi for what he described as their direct involvement in overcoming obstacles and facilitating the return process.
Ali also expressed gratitude to residents of Hasakah Governorate and Kobani region for hosting Afrin’s displaced population throughout the years of displacement, as well as to security forces, humanitarian organizations, medical teams, and local administrations that assisted displaced families.
Samir Ali Oso, also known as Sipan Hamo, Syrian Deputy Defense Minister for Easter Region, said the return of residents to their homes and olive groves after eight years represented a long-awaited moment for Afrin.
“The return of the people to their land and olive trees after eight years of absence is a historic moment and the return of a spirit that remained attached to Afrin throughout these years,” he said.
Oso called on returning residents to contribute to rebuilding their communities and strengthening local institutions, emphasizing that the next phase should focus on recovery, stability, and development.
While many families have returned, residents and rights groups continue to highlight challenges facing returnees, including damaged infrastructure, unresolved property disputes, security concerns, and the need for basic services and economic opportunities.
The completion of the organized convoy program nevertheless marks a significant development for thousands of displaced Syrians and is viewed by many residents as a step toward restoring stability and social cohesion in Afrin after years of conflict and displacement.