How Syria’s fragile transition fuels new waves of exodus

The New York Times recent analysis sheds light on the aftermath of the nearly 14-year civil war in Syria, following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. The piece explores the rising displacement within the country, driven not only by ongoing violence but also by long-standing sectarian tensions, government-backed land disputes, and foreign occupation.

Despite initial hopes of return for millions of Syrians, these new challenges have left many in peril, dislocated once again in their own homeland. The artcile outlines how these factors have destabilised regions and rekindled old conflicts, pushing more than 430,000 people into displacement in just a few months.

Sectarian volence, power struggles

The article outlines the escalating violence in Sweida Province, which is home to the Druse community, a minority group in Syria. In the summer of 2025, deadly clashes between the Druse and Bedouin communities, who share a history of strained relations, exploded into full-scale violence.

As the fighting intensified, the Syrian government’s forces became involved, adding a sectarian dimension to the conflict, with Bedouins—part of Syria’s Sunni Muslim majority—clashing with the Druse, a religious minority. The violence in Reem al-Hawaren, the provincial capital, culminated in forced evacuations, with families such as that of Reem al-Hawaren fleeing their homes under duress.

“On what basis did they force us to leave our homes?” she questioned. 

The violence claimed hundreds of lives, with over 1,300 deaths reported, including nearly 400 civilians, mostly from the Druse community. The Syrian government’s security forces executed at least one Druse civilian, further deepening sectarian rifts. These acts of revenge and ethnic cleansing have made returning to one’s home dangerous and nearly impossible for many.

Land disputes

In addition to sectarian violence, the article highlights land disputes as a major factor in post-war displacement. Many Syrian families are grappling with the fallout of land expropriations, a practice instituted under Assad’s regime to favour certain groups, such as the Alawites, to which Assad himself belongs. These historical grievances have resurfaced, with landowners seeking to reclaim properties that were seized by the government during the civil war, or in some cases, decades earlier.

The situation has been particularly tense in places like the Damascus suburb of al-Soumariya, where Alawite families, who have held onto land for generations, have faced violent evictions. 

One 32-year-old Alawite woman, who asked not to be identified for fear of retribution, said she and other residents had prepared their property documents in case of inspections. They were told a government committee would come. Instead, they were surprised when the armed forces arrived.

Nearly two dozen officers dressed in military uniforms, some of them masked, came to her neighbourhood. She said they broke through her door and dragged her out by her hair, hurling sectarian insults at her and her brothers.

This form of forced displacement has created a volatile environment in which not only property disputes but also sectarian identities become weapons of conflict.

By Sabina Mammadli