Protest held in Jabal Aqil of al-Bab, rejecting demolition of homes, demanding rights

On Friday, civilians gathered in a peaceful protest in front of the Turkish base in the Jabal Aqil area of al-Bab city in Aleppo northern countryside, responding to a statement previously issued by residents, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The protest was the latest in a series of demonstrations that began in mid-April, as residents continue to demand the return of their lands and homes, large portions of which have been converted into a military zone under the control of the Turkish base since 2017.

During the protest, residents reiterated that their movement is peaceful, rights-based, and ongoing. They demanded the return of the lands and homes to their rightful owners and a halt to any further military expansion in the area, asserting that their case has dragged on for years without any resolution.

Residents complain that the forces deployed at the base have carried out systematic bulldozing and demolition operations affecting hundreds of homes and surrounding agricultural lands, with the aim to expand the base's perimeter and consolidate its military presence, resulting in the complete razing of entire residential neighborhoods, as well as the seizure of civilian property and the prevention of its owners from returning to or accessing it according to the Observatory.