Field evidence contradicts Turkish denials regarding return of Serêkaniyê residents

Statements by Turkish authorities denying that residents of villages in Serêkaniyê are being prevented from returning to their homes contradict field reports published by ANHA agency. The reports documented the continued presence of Turkish military positions in displaced villages and the need for around 25 families to set up tents near their village after being unable to return to their homes.

14 October, 2026 12:18

NEWSDESK

The Turkish Presidency's "Combating Misinformation" Center denied on Tuesday that the Turkish army had prevented residents of villages in Serekaniye from returning to their homes, considering that what is being circulated in this regard "does not reflect the truth," and claiming that the situation of families wishing to return is being monitored in coordination with the relevant institutions in Syria.

However, this denial contradicts field facts documented by ANHA news agency.

25 families in tents adjacent to their village

On October 10, the agency documented the forced displacement of about 25 families from the village of Said al-Darbu in the countryside of Serêkaniyê, who were forced to set up tents and live next to the village, after returning from displacement camps and being unable to enter their homes and lands due to the continued transformation of the village into a Turkish military site.

The residents appealed to the relevant authorities to intervene to ensure their return before winter arrives.

124 military sites hinder the return

In another report dated October 13, the agency documented the presence of 124 Turkish military sites inside Syria, including 12 permanent bases and 112 military points, distributed across 6 governorates: 56 in Aleppo, 51 in Idlib, 9 in Raqqa, 5 in Hasakah, 2 in Latakia, and 1 in Hama.

The report confirmed that the villages of Bab al-Faraj, al-Dawoudiya, al-Arisha, al-Manakh and al-Amiriya in Serêkaniyê, and the villages of Jalbara, Darwish and Sheikh Khorz Fawqani in Afrin, are still turned into military sites that prevent the return of their residents, despite the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the villages of Basla and Jih after more than 8 years.

The return file has no clear schedule.

On September 25, the Committee of Displaced People of Serêkaniyê called for the completion of the return convoys according to a clear timetable, and for securing the security, service and legal conditions for a safe, voluntary and dignified return, stressing that return is an inherent right that should not remain subject to postponement and ambiguity.

These facts confirm that resolving the issue of return requires addressing the obstacles on the ground and revealing the fate of the villages that have been turned into military sites, and not just denying the accusations.

Sh-S

ANHA