Displaced Syrians begin returning to Cafrin as armed factions withdraw

CAFRIN, Syria — Following the 10 March agreement between Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) General Commander Mazloum Abdi and Syrian Transitional Government (STG) President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Turkish-occupied region of Cafrin (Afrin) has seen a phased withdrawal of fighters of the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), paving the way for displaced residents to return.

On 8 April, a Syrian Defense Ministry official confirmed a significant reduction in the military presence and bases of armed groups in Cafrin. This was corroborated by Azad Osman, a member of the Local Council of the Kurdish National Council (ENKS), in an interview with Rudaw.

Osman reported that thousands of armed faction fighters had vacated the area, checkpoints between villages had been removed, and economic offices associated with the factions had been closed. “We hope that displaced residents will soon reclaim their homes and that security in the region will improve in the coming days,” Osman stated.

He also called for the formation of a committee to facilitate the return of the remaining displaced population and highlighted the deployment of STG security forces across Cafrin, which have assumed control of key locations.

In 2018, Turkish forces and allied factions took control of Cafrin, displacing over 300,000 residents, according to United Nations and international reports. These reports also documented extensive demographic changes and the destruction of tens of thousands of olive trees, for which Cafrin is renowned.

As armed SNA factions withdraw, residents are optimistic about reclaiming their homes and restoring stability to the region.