The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

After allowing them to check their homes for only two hours | Widespread popular discontent over destruction and systematic thefts in villages of Wadi Barada in Damascus countryside

Damascus Countryside Governorate – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored widespread discontent among the people, who were allowed by regime forces to enter areas in Wadi Barada in Damascus countryside for a very short time in order to check their homes and property, over the massive destruction of their homes, and the systematic robberies and looting by regime forces in these towns.

A civilian, known by his initials as (M.N.), speaks to the Syrian Observatory about the enormity of the destruction he has seen after entering the villages and towns of Bassima, Al-Khadra, Deir Muqrin, al-Husseiniya and other villages in Wadi Barada: “The regime intelligence allowed the people of these villages to enter for only two hours and one person of each family is allowed to enter. After we entered, we were shocked by the destruction and damage of property, in addition to the fact that the property of some of the residents was disappeared and no longer exists. He added that regime forces have bulldozed parts of the cemetery of the village of Bassima. He ended his testimony by saying “We fear that these acts may have been committed with the intention of depriving us from our property and transferring ownership to another party.”

On December 17, reliable sources in north-western Damascus countryside told SOHR that towns and villages in the area of Wadi Barada have witnessed the partial return of their residents after the Syrian regime authorities allowed them to enter, after being prohibited for years.

Syrian Observatory sources have said that a large part of the houses of civilians are destroyed by previous military operations, and some houses were turned into military headquarters belonging to the 4th Division and the regime forces and loyalists. The return included the villages of Al-Khadra, Bassima, Deir Muqrin, Al-Husseiniya and other villages in Wadi Barada.

It is worth nothing that the regime forces were able to control all the cities and towns of Wadi Barada area in western Damascus countryside in early 2017, after the signing of a reconciliation agreement between the opposition and the regime that required the departure of those who refused to settle their situation to the areas of northern Syria.