United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated during a press conference that “the UN Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, is closely monitoring these developments.” Meanwhile, local sources reported that the evacuation campaign of the neighborhood has taken on a sectarian character, amidst threats of forcibly removing residents within a short timeframe.
The measures included random arrests exceeding hundreds, among them women, children, and the elderly. Many detainees were subjected to mistreatment, and some were forced to sign waivers of their properties. According to local reports, practices such as marking houses with special signs were documented, which some observers considered a prelude to forced displacement, as reported by the “Erem News” site.
In the same context, some Syrian officials justified the move by stating that “the concerned lands belong to the state and were reclaimed by a court ruling,” asserting that “the procedure is legal.” However, the residents reject this, arguing that the method is neither legal nor humane, stating that they have attempted to communicate with the concerned authorities but have not received an effective response.
