Security escalation in Al-Sumariya, Damascus deepens residents’ suffering

Since yesterday, Al-Sumariyah, located west of Damascus, has witnessed increasing security escalation after Damascus government forces closed most of the area’s main entrances, leaving only two pedestrian passageways and a single entry point for vehicles.

The move caused partial paralysis in residents’ daily life, forcing many to walk long distances to reach their homes or workplaces.

According to private sources, this escalation is an extension of a previous siege imposed on the area under the pretext of a population census, during which the entry of food and essential supplies was blocked, further worsening residents’ living conditions.

Locals confirmed that the area is witnessing attempts at gradual displacement. After the previous eviction of families from militarized areas, the authorities are now targeting privately owned Arab homes.

On July 8, local sources told the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) that the so-called “Amir (prince)” responsible for Al-Sumariyah gave around 300 families a 72-hour deadline to leave their homes, without allowing them to take their furniture or personal belongings. 

The SOHR reported that this was carried out under an unsubstantiated “security” pretext, without providing any support or alternative housing to the affected families.

Testimonies from Al-Sumariyah given to ANHA correspondent yesterday revealed that a military faction, in coordination with the General Security, entered the neighborhood and destroyed officially issued property documents from the Damascus Governorate, claiming they were “issued under the former regime.” Families were then forced to vacate their homes.

Residents also reported that members of the forces marked some houses with mysterious symbols (X and O) without explaining their meaning, a move interpreted by locals as part of a psychological intimidation campaign.

According to residents, families were forcibly removed into the streets and subjected to violent treatment, including beatings and verbal abuse directed at young men and the elderly. Homes were searched, rooftops accessed, and religious slogans shouted to instill fear.

In the Al-Shuhada neighborhood yesterday, some members of the forces stormed civilian homes carrying swords and arrested two young men.

According to testimonies, the homes of absent residents were looted and vandalized, while even occupied houses were not spared verbal assaults and abuse. The worsening electricity outages and lack of basic services have added to the residents’ daily suffering, alongside increasing difficulty in accessing food and essential supplies.

Residents are calling on human rights organizations for urgent intervention from international bodies concerned with civilian protection, to document violations, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, and halt ongoing attempts of displacement and intimidation.

A-H 

ANHA