{"id":136283,"date":"2026-03-18T11:38:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:38:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=136283"},"modified":"2026-03-18T11:38:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T11:38:09","slug":"afrin-displacement-persists-8-years-after-turkish-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/136283\/","title":{"rendered":"Afrin displacement persists 8 years after Turkish operation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) \u2013<\/strong> Eight years after Turkey\u2019s 2018 military operation in Afrin, northwestern Syria, tens of thousands of displaced Kurds remain unable to return home amid ongoing reports of violations and demographic changes in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 18, 2018, Turkish forces and allied Syrian factions seized control of Afrin, a predominantly Kurdish area, following fierce clashes with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). The offensive, dubbed Operation Olive Branch, forced tens of thousands of residents to flee to nearby regions, including Shahba and northeastern cities such as Qamishli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, displaced residents have repeatedly called for a safe and dignified return, but conditions on the ground have remained unstable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reports from local sources and rights groups indicate that Afrin has experienced widespread violations since 2018, including property seizures, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on remaining residents. Cases of looting, kidnappings, and the destruction of cultural and religious sites have also been documented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The region has seen a demographic shift, with new families settling in homes belonging to displaced Kurds. Those forced to flee continue to live in difficult humanitarian conditions in northeastern Syria, including Qamishli and Hasakah, where access to services remains limited due to conflict and siege-like conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, renewed clashes and military developments in northern Syria triggered new waves of displacement. Many families who had initially settled in Shahba (Aleppo northern countryside) were forced to flee again toward northeastern Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In early 2026, convoys of displaced Kurds arrived in Qamishli after renewed hostilities and military pressure in areas previously hosting Afrin\u2019s displaced population.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Displaced residents and civil organizations continue to demand their right of return under international guarantees, stressing that their displacement remains unresolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the Jan. 29, 2026, integration agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian transitional government, observers say there has been little concrete progress toward facilitating returns or ensuring accountability for past violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement is seen as a key step toward resolving these long-standing issues. Displaced residents are expected to return under joint supervision to ensure safety, protection of property, and compensation for losses. Rights groups have welcomed the initiative but emphasize the importance of monitoring its implementation to prevent abuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the return of the first 400 families marks progress, thousands more remain displaced across northeastern Syria and other regions. Experts say the success of the return process will depend on security guarantees, reconstruction of infrastructure, and sustained cooperation between the SDF and Syrian authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the eighth anniversary passes, Afrin remains a central symbol of displacement for Syrian Kurds, with thousands still waiting for conditions that would allow them to safely return home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Jwan Shekaki <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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