Return to Sere Kaniye Suspended After Attacks on Displaced Families

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The return of displaced residents to Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ayn), Western Kurdistan (northeastern Syria), has been temporarily suspended after several returnees were attacked following the arrival of the first organized convoy, prompting security measures and renewed concerns over the safety of families returning to the northeastern Syrian city.

Siyamend Afrini, deputy commander of the Internal Security Forces in Hasakah, said Tuesday that all official convoys carrying displaced people back to Sere Kaniye would remain suspended until security conditions improve and adequate guarantees are in place.

The decision came after the first convoy of displaced Kurdish families reached the city on Monday, following years of displacement. The returnees were subsequently subjected to attacks and acts of vandalism, according to local officials and representatives of the displaced.

Return suspended after attacks

Afrini condemned what he described as attacks and "reckless acts of sabotage" targeting residents who had returned after eight years away from their homes.

"These isolated and unacceptable actions are aimed solely at undermining the peace and stability of the region," Afrini said in a statement posted on his official X account, adding that the attacks sought to prevent residents from returning and disrupt efforts to promote coexistence among the region's communities.

He said the Internal Security Forces had launched security and legal measures following the incidents and had arrested several suspects. Search and investigative operations were continuing to identify and apprehend others allegedly involved, he said.

Afrini warned that security forces would not tolerate attempts to exploit the situation to create unrest.

He said the suspension of return convoys was a precautionary measure intended to protect displaced families and that the process would resume only after the situation had stabilized and comprehensive security guarantees had been secured.

The move represents a setback for an organized return process that had been presented as a significant step toward addressing the displacement of tens of thousands of residents from Sere Kaniye.

Displaced committee demands accountability

The Sere Kaniye Displaced Persons Committee said it was closely monitoring the security violations following the arrival of the first convoy.

The committee held authorities in Damascus, including the Syrian presidency, as well as security agencies and the local administration in Sere Kaniye responsible for the breaches.

It said the attacks violated provisions of the January 29 agreement concerning the return of displaced residents and called for measures to guarantee the safety of families seeking to return.

Ciwan Iso, head of the displaced persons committee, spoke at a demonstration in Qamishlo protesting the attacks. He said the return had taken place with the approval of the Syrian government and accused resettled Arab residents of attacking the returnees.

"The Syrian government is primarily responsible for the attacks that occurred today," Iso said, according to the committee.

He said families had returned on the basis of assurances that conditions were suitable and that they would be able to return safely to their hometown.

The committee said it remained in contact with relevant parties and was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incidents while seeking measures to restore calm.

Kobani placed under curfew

Separately, authorities announced a temporary curfew in Kobani as security officials moved to contain potential unrest.

The Internal Security Command of Aleppo Province said Tuesday that the curfew had been imposed to maintain public security and preserve stability in the city.

The measure will remain in effect until further notice, according to the command.

Authorities urged residents to comply with official instructions and cooperate with security forces to prevent further unrest.

The simultaneous security measures in Sere Kaniye and Kobani highlight the sensitivity surrounding the return of displaced residents and broader efforts to manage tensions in Kurdish-majority areas of northern Syria.

A difficult return process

The displacement from Sere Kaniye dates back to 2019, when a Turkish military offensive and allied Syrian fighters seized the border city and surrounding areas from Kurdish-led forces.

More than 14,000 families, representing an estimated 85,000 people, were displaced from the area, according to figures cited by local representatives.

The first organized return convoy had offered a significant moment for families who had spent years away from their homes. But the attacks have now raised questions over whether the wider return process can proceed without stronger security guarantees.

For the displaced families, the suspension means that the prospect of returning home remains dependent not only on political agreements but also on the ability of authorities to provide security, protect property rights and prevent renewed violence.

The developments also place greater pressure on Damascus and local security authorities to demonstrate that any future returns can take place safely and under clear guarantees for those seeking to reclaim their homes.