The city of Afrin witnessed a series of provocations and assaults on the evening of Saturday, April 4, 2026, during the reception of the second convoy of displaced Kurdish residents returning to the area, according to local sources reporting to Afrin Now.
Information indicates that groups of settlers provoked Kurdish civilians in the vicinity of the Al-Qaws area, Al-Mazot Street, and the Helmet Roundabout (Dawar al-Khouda) as they gathered to welcome the convoy. The groups reportedly chanted racist and extremist slogans, played provocative songs, and physically harassed Kurdish citizens by pushing them. Additionally, images of Saddam Hussein were reportedly raised during the incidents.
Sources further noted that residents were prevented from raising the Kurdish flag. In one instance, members of the Internal Security Forces, operating under the Ministry of Interior of the Syrian Interim Government, forcibly confiscated a Kurdish flag from a young man during the reception.
Arrival of the Convoy
Simultaneously, the second convoy of returning displaced persons reached the Afrin city center after departing from the city of Qamishlo earlier this morning. They were met with a public reception by local residents who gathered to welcome their relatives after years of displacement.
The convoy had set off at 6:00 AM from the Youssef Gulo Roundabout in Qamishlo. It consisted of approximately 200 families traveling in 80 private vehicles, 48 trucks carrying household belongings, and 14 buses.
The journey was accompanied by security measures, with the convoy traveling under the protection of Internal Security Forces vehicles. The operation was supervised by Siamand Afrin, the Deputy of Internal Security Forces in Hasakah, alongside teams from the Syrian Civil Defense, to ensure the safety of the families during transit.
Background and Context
The returning families primarily hail from the Rajo district and the Afrin city center. This follows the first batch of returnees, which included approximately 400 families who arrived back in the city on March 9.
The movement of these convoys comes as part of the implementation of the terms of the agreement reached on January 29.
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