Udlændinge- og Integrationsudvalget 2017-18
UUI Alm.del Bilag 195
Offentligt
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6/2018
SYRIA
Security Situation in Damascus City and Yarmouk
Report based on interviews in Damascus, Syria, Beirut, Lebanon and Amman,
Jordan, 12-23 March 2018
Copenhagen, August 2018
Danish Immigration Service
Ryesgade 53
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Phone: 00 45 35 36 66 00
Web: www.newtodenmark.dk
 UUI, Alm.del - 2017-18 - Bilag 195: Orientering om Fact finding-rapport om forholdene i Syrien, fra udlændinge- og integrationsministeren
Contents
Disclaimer .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction and methodology ......................................................................................................................... 4
Abbreviations..................................................................................................................................................... 6
1.
1.1.
General security situation in Damascus Province ................................................................................. 7
Prevalence of security incidents in Damascus City and the extent and type of casualties ............... 8
Shelling ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Asymmetric warfare incidents................................................................................................. 10
Updated security situation in Damascus City .......................................................................... 11
1.1.1.
1.1.2.
1.1.3.
1.2.
Prevalence of security incidents in Yarmouk and the extent and type of casualties ...................... 13
Clashes ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Human rights violations ........................................................................................................... 13
Updated security situation in Yarmouk ................................................................................... 14
1.2.1.
1.2.2.
1.2.3.
1.3.
Prevalence of internally displaced persons in Damascus City ......................................................... 15
1.4. Freedom of movement in Damascus province, including impact of ethnic/religious background,
gender, economic situation and place of origin .......................................................................................... 16
1.4.1.
1.4.1.1.
1.4.1.2.
1.4.1.3.
1.4.1.4.
1.4.1.5.
1.4.1.6.
1.4.1.7.
1.4.1.8.
1.4.1.9.
1.4.2.
2.
Freedom of movement in Damascus City ............................................................................... 16
Checkpoints affecting daily movement ............................................................................... 16
Purpose of checkpoints ....................................................................................................... 16
Prevalence and locations of checkpoints ............................................................................ 16
Checkpoint procedures........................................................................................................ 17
Wanted lists distributed to checkpoints.............................................................................. 18
Treatment of family members of wanted individuals approaching checkpoints................ 19
Impact of ethnic and religious background or place of origin on treatment at checkpoints
19
Treatment of other profiles at checkpoints ........................................................................ 20
Corruption and extortion at checkpoints ............................................................................ 21
Freedom of movement in Yarmouk......................................................................................... 21
Returning to Syria, including entry in Syria via Damascus International Airport .................................... 21
2.1.
2.2.
2.3.
General pattern regarding return to Syria ...................................................................................... 21
Entry in Syria via Damascus International Airport........................................................................... 23
Consequences of illegal exit ............................................................................................................ 24
Consulted sources ........................................................................................................................................... 26
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Appendix A: Meeting minutes ......................................................................................................................... 27
A Damascus-based lawyer ........................................................................................................................... 27
A diplomatic source in Beirut ...................................................................................................................... 31
A diplomatic source in Damascus ................................................................................................................ 35
A humanitarian organisation ....................................................................................................................... 36
A humanitarian security organisation ......................................................................................................... 39
Amnesty International ................................................................................................................................. 46
An international human rights organisation ............................................................................................... 48
An international organisation in Syria ......................................................................................................... 52
An international security organisation ........................................................................................................ 56
Christopher Kozak, Institute for the Study of War (ISW) ............................................................................ 59
Danish Red Cross ......................................................................................................................................... 65
Lama Fakih, deputy director, Human Rights Watch (HRW) ........................................................................ 68
Heiko Wimmen, International Crisis Group (ICG) ....................................................................................... 72
Mercy Corps - Humanitarian Access Team (HAT)........................................................................................ 73
REACH .......................................................................................................................................................... 77
Syria Direct .................................................................................................................................................. 79
World Health Organization (WHO) .............................................................................................................. 85
Annex B: Terms of Reference .......................................................................................................................... 88
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Disclaimer
This report was written according to the EASO COI Report Methodology.
1
The report is based on
approved minutes from meetings with carefully selected sources. Statements from sources are
used in the report and all statements are referenced.
This report is not, and does not purport to be, a detailed or comprehensive survey of all aspects of
the issues addressed in the report and should be weighed against other available country of origin
information on the security situation in Damascus province and the situation for returnees,
including entry via Damascus International Airport.
The report at hand does not include any policy recommendations or analysis. The information in
the report does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish
Refugee Council.
Furthermore, this report is not conclusive as to the determination or merit of any particular claim
to refugee status or asylum. Terminology used should not be regarded as indicative of a particular
legal position.
1
European Union: European Asylum Support Office (EASO), EASO Country of Origin Information report methodology, 10 July 2012.
http://www.refworld.org/docid/4ffc33d32.html [accessed 18 June 2018]
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Introduction and methodology
The report at hand focuses on the security situation in Damascus province in Syria, including the
security situation in Damascus City and Yarmouk, freedom of movement and internally displaced
persons (IDPs). Additionally, the report contains information on general patterns regarding
returnees and entry in Syria via Damascus International Airport.
The report is the product of a joint mission conducted by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and
the Country of Origin Information Division, Danish Immigration Service (DIS) to Damascus, Syria,
Beirut, Lebanon and Amman, Jordan from 12 to 23 March 2018. In the planning phase of the
mission, contacts were established with relevant sources who confirmed their availability on the
given dates of our mission. The delegation also consulted one source in Washington, USA via
Skype.
The purpose of the mission was to collect updated information on issues recurring in cases
regarding Syrian asylum seekers in Denmark. The terms of reference for the mission were drawn
up jointly by DIS and DRC, in consultation with the Danish Refugee Appeals Board as well as an
advisory group on COI (‘Referencegruppen’)
.
2
The terms of reference are included at the end of
the report (Annex B).
In the scope of compiling this report, the delegation consulted 17 interlocutors, comprising
international organisations, international non-governmental organizations, humanitarian
organisations, analysts, journalists, diplomatic representations as well as a lawyer. The sources
interviewed were selected by the delegation based on the expertise, merit and role of each source
relevant to the mission.
3
Some of the sources consulted have a presence inside Syria, others travel regularly to Syria and
still others follow the situation from outside of Syria through information from a wide range of
sources and contacts.
The sources were asked how reference might be made to them in the report. 8 out of 17 sources
requested varying degrees of anonymity for the sake of discretion and upholding tolerable
working conditions, as well as for personal safety. All sources are referenced in the report
according to their own request.
The sources consulted were informed about the purpose of the mission and that their statements
would be included in a public report. The minutes from the meetings with the sources were
The group consists of Danish Refugee Council, Amnesty International in Denmark, Danish Institute for Human Rights, Dignity,
representatives of two Christian organizations (“Europamissionen” and “Åbne Døre”), the National Commissioner of Police and the
Danish Bar and Law Society (representing asylum
lawyers).
3
In addition to the 17 sources mentioned above, the
delegation also met with two representatives from UNHCR in Damascus
on Tuesday, 22 March 2018, who requested the delegation not to include the minutes from the meeting in the final report and
solely use their statements as background information.
2
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forwarded to them for approval, giving them a chance to amend, comment or correct their
statements. All sources have approved their statements.
The report is a synthesis of the sources’ statements and does thus not include all details and
nuances of each statement. In the report, care has been taken to present the views of the sources
as accurately and transparently as possible. All sources’ statements are found in their full extent in
Annex A of this report.
For the sake of reader-friendliness, transparency and accuracy, paragraphs in the meeting minutes
in Annex A have been given consecutive numbers, which are used in the report when referring to
the statements of the sources in the footnotes. The intention hereby is to make it easier to find
the exact place of a statement in the meeting minutes.
Finally, attention should be called to the changeable and unstable situation in Syria and the fact
that the information provided may quickly become out-dated. Therefore, the issues addressed in
this report should be monitored periodically and be brought up to date accordingly.
The security situation in Damascus changed significantly after the interviews with the sources and
before drafting the report was initiated, because the Government of Syria succeeded in taking
control of Eastern Ghouta and southern suburbs of Damascus, including Yarmouk. Against this
background, the sources were requested to update the information regarding the security
situation in Damascus City and Yarmouk when approving the minutes. The updated information
received from the sources has been added to the meeting minutes.
The delegation did not succeed in collecting much information on entry into Syria via Damascus
International Airport, which is one of the topics in the ToR, as the sources generally did not have
much information on this issue and did not monitor returns to Syria via Damascus International
Airport. According to the sources, most Syrians use land borders (particularly the border with
Lebanon) to enter or leave Syria, and returns to Syria have so far mainly been from the
neighbouring countries, where the land borders have been used. For this reason, the sources’
information on returns to Syria was limited to mostly anecdotal reports or assumptions.
The Danish Embassy in Beirut provided valuable assistance in the planning and execution phases
of the mission.
The research and editing of this report was finalised by 26 June 2018.
The report is available on the websites of
DIS
and
DRC,
thus available to all stakeholders in the
refugee status determination process as well as to the general public.
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Abbreviations
COI
DIS
DRC
EASO
ERW
FSA
HRW
HTS
ICG
IED
IS
ISW
NDF
NGO
ToR
UNHCR
UXO
VBIED
Country of Origin Information
Danish Immigration Service
Danish Refugee Council
European Asylum Support Office
Explosive Remnants of War
Free Syrian Army
Human Rights Watch
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (Organization for the Liberation of the Levant)
International Crisis Group
Improvised explosive device
Islamic State
Institute for the Study of War
National Defence Forces
Non-governmental organization
Terms of reference
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Unexploded ordnance
Vehicle-borne improvised explosive device
World Health Organisation
WHO
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1. General security situation in Damascus Province
Broadly depicted, Damascus Province was split between two types of areas in mid-March 2018: (1)
government-held areas and (2) opposition-/Islamic State-controlled areas.
4
In government-held areas, the
predominant threat was indirect fire, including artillery mortars, fired from opposition-held Eastern
Ghouta
5
; i.e. Ayn Tarma, Zamalka, Irbin, Harasta, Douma and environs.
6
Jobar, an opposition-held area on the north-eastern side of Damascus City and part of Damascus Province,
had been particularly plagued by active conflict because of its location as the outmost eastern point of the
city and the outmost western point of Eastern Ghouta. Satellite imagery analysis showed that
approximately 93 pct. of structures in Jobar had been moderately or severely damaged, or completely
destroyed.
7
Source: Christopher Kozak (ISW)
in
Institute for the Study of War,
Regime Gains in Damascus, Syria: March 12 - 26, 2018,
available
at:
http://iswresearch.blogspot.com/2018/03/regime-gains-in-damascus-syria-march-12.html
[accessed 8 June 2018]
From the beginning of 2017 and until the beginning of 2018, the Syrian government had gained control
over more areas in Eastern Ghouta.
8
On 18 February 2018, government forces launched an intense push
against the armed opposition in Eastern Ghouta
9
, and according to an international security organisation
4
5
A humanitarian security organisation: 92; see also map below.
A Damascus-based lawyer: 2, A diplomatic source in Beirut: 35, A humanitarian organization: 73, A humanitarian
security organisation: 93 – 95, Amnesty International: 137, An international human rights organisation: 150, An
international security organisation: 200, Christopher Kozak: 220, Lama Fakih (HRW) 280, Heiko Wimmen (ICG): 306,
Mercy Corps: 318-319, REACH: 349, Syria Direct: 358, WHO: 400
6
See map below.
7
REACH: 350; see also ‘A humanitarian security organisation: 96’ for elaborated information on the fighting in Jobar.
8
An international organisation in Syria: 174
9
An international security organisation: 201, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 220, Mercy Corps: 318, REACH: 349
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the government had taken approximately 80 pct. of the area by 18 March 2018.
10
A Russian report of 20
March 2018 however stated that the Syrian army, at that time, controlled only 65 pct. of Eastern Ghouta.
11
South Damascus had been divided between three pockets:
1. Qadam,
2. The Yarmouk Camp and Hajar al-Aswad, and
3. Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahm (YBB).
12
In mid-March 2018, areas in these pockets were controlled by different armed opposition forces, including
Islamic State.
13
These opposition-held areas were besieged by government forces and thereby contained.
14
In mid-March 2018, the Yarmouk Camp was largely controlled by Islamic State. A small part of the camp
was controlled by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
15
The surrounding areas, Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahm, were
controlled by other armed opposition groups.
16
In addition, pro-government Palestinian groups were
present in the area during the conflict, which contributed to the complexity and dynamic of the security
situation.
17
In March 2018, opposition groups in Qadam accepted an evacuation deal with the Syrian Government.
However, when these groups evacuated the area Islamic State moved in and temporarily seized control of
the area.
18
1.1.
Prevalence of security incidents in Damascus City and the extent and type
of casualties
In mid-March 2018, Damascus City was under control of the Syrian government.
19
Within the past two to
three years, the general security situation in Damascus City had improved because of fewer frontlines close
to the city.
20
Before the government launched its campaign against the armed opposition in Eastern Ghouta
in February 2018, the security situation in Damascus City was generally considered as relatively stable.
21
However, due to recent intensified shelling by armed opposition groups targeting districts in Damascus city,
An international security organisation: 201
An international organisation in Syria: 174
12
Mercy Corps: 326
13
A humanitarian security organisation: 109, An international security organisation: 208, Christopher Kozak (ISW):
232-233, Mercy Corps: 326, REACH: 351
14
A Damascus-based lawyer: 10, A humanitarian security organisation: 109, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 232, An
international security organisation: 210; see also ‘Syria Direct: 369’ and ‘REACH: 351’commenting specifically on the
Yarmouk Camp.
15
A humanitarian organisation: 76, A humanitarian security organisation: 110, Syria Direct: 369; see also map above.
16
A humanitarian organisation: 76, An international security organisation: 208; see also map above.
17
An international human rights organisation: 153; see also ‘Syria Direct: 370’ commenting specifically on the
Yarmouk Camp where these groups, according to the source, were present earlier in the conflict.
18
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 233, Mercy Corps: 329 [The sources do not agree on the exact time of this event. However,
both state that it happened in March 2018 (ed.)]
19
A Damascus-based lawyer: 1, Amnesty International: 136; see also map above.
20
Heiko Wimmen (ICG): 306
21
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 220, Mercy Corps: 324, WHO: 401; An international human rights organisation (150) said
that the development with regards to the security situation had been critical during 2017
11
10
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which corresponded with the government’s heightened military pressure on these groups in Eastern
Ghouta, the security situation in the city had turned more insecure.
22
1.1.1. Shelling
Figures used by different sources to describe the extent of shelling in Damascus City are generally difficult
to compare across the material for this report. However, two sources pointed to reports indicating that 88
indirect artillery fires hit Damascus City during 14-20 March 2018.
23
In comparison, another source said
that, in 2017, there was an average of 60-70 indirect fire events per month with an average of two to three
projectiles per event.
24
The threat of shelling impacted daily life and travel around Damascus City,
25
but inhabitants were generally
not paralysed by the situation and tried to lead a normal life.
26
At times when the number of projectiles
hitting in the city was high or if there had been many casualties, people usually stayed indoors.
27
Different types of shelling struck Damascus City. The shells were generally mortars and other manufactured
ammunition but they sometimes included homemade explosives.
28
These weapons did not impact
accurately
29
for a number of reasons. For instance, the weapons used by opposition groups in Ghouta were
not precision weapons and at best, they hit with a precision of 100 to 200 meters. Secondly, armed
opposition groups in Ghouta did not target precisely due to the fact that their firing positions were often
from vehicles that did not have a stable platform. Even a small centimetre change resulted in a huge range
in where the mortars would impact.
30
Although only few sources were able to provide concrete examples, it was mentioned that shelling on
Damascus City from Eastern Ghouta had struck military installations and government facilities or close to
such premises.
31
However, shelling mostly impacted in areas with a high concentration of civilians
32
such as
marketplaces
33
, traffic junctions
34
and schools
35
. According to an international organisation in Syria, it is
very clear that the opposition intended to target civilian areas with mortars and not only government
buildings or military facilities. The source assessed that this was due to the fact that if civilian areas were
targeted, civilians would in turn put pressure on the government.
36
Amnesty International said that the
main source for information about military targets was the government’s news agency, SANA, according to
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 35, A humanitarian security organisation: 98-99, An international human rights
organisation: 150, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 220, Lama Fakih (HRW): 281
23
An international organisation in Syria: 178, An international security organisation: 203
24
A humanitarian security organisation: 99
25
A Damascus-based lawyer: 3, A humanitarian security organisation: 97, Danish Red Cross: 265, World Health
Organization: 402
26
A Damascus-based lawyer: 3, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 225
27
A Damascus-based lawyer: 3, A humanitarian security organisation: 97, World Health Organization: 404
28
A Damascus-based lawyer: 5, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 227
29
A diplomatic source in Damascus: 68, A humanitarian security organisation: 102, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 224,
Danish Red Cross: 264, Heiko Wimmen (ICG): 307, Mercy Corps: 330, Syria Direct: 359
30
A humanitarian security organisation: 102
31
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 38, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 224, Lama Fakih (HRW): 283
32
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 38, Amnesty International: 138, Lama Fakih (HRW): 283, Syria Direct: 359-360
33
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 38, Lama Fakih (HRW): 283, Mercy Corps: 320
34
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 38, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 229, Lama Fakih (HRW): 283
35
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 38, Mercy Corps: 320
36
An international organisation: 176
22
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which shelling primarily struck civilian areas.
37
According to WHO, the only reports about shelling in the
media was about civilians being hit.
38
An international organisation in Syria said that 90 pct. of mortars
launched towards Damascus throughout the entire conflict had hit civilian areas and estimated that 10,000-
15,000 persons had been killed or injured in Damascus City within the past seven years.
39
Not all areas in Damascus City were struck by shelling.
40
The majority of projectiles impacted in areas in
close proximity to Eastern Ghouta, although some could reach further.
41
The Old City of Damascus and
surrounding neighbourhoods were particularly vulnerable to shelling.
42
According to Christopher Kozak
(ISW), open-source reporting claimed roughly forty to fifty civilians killed and an equivalent number injured
by shelling in and around the Old City of Damascus from mid-January to mid-March 2018.
43
1.1.2. Asymmetric warfare incidents
In addition to shelling, there had been few incidents of assassinations
44
, car bombs
45
, improvised explosive
devices (IED)
46
and suicide attacks
47
targeting both civilians and military objectives in Damascus City.
48
A
notorious suicide attack took place at the Palace of Justice in March 2017.
49 50
Other attacks targeted police
stations
51
and the Sayyida Zainab Shrine
52
, which serves as a major mobilization point for Shiite militias.
53
It is not possible to derive solid numerical statistics with regard to assassinations, car bombs, improvised
explosive devices (IED) and suicide attacks in Damascus City in recent years from the material for this
37
38
Amnesty International: 138
World Health Organization (WHO): 403
39
An international organisation in Syria: 176-177
40
Amnesty International: 137
41
A humanitarian security organisation: 101-102, An international human rights organisation: 150, An international
organisation in Syria: 175, An international security organisation: 200, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 220, Heiko Wimmen
(ICG): 305
42
A Damascus-based lawyer: 6, A diplomatic source in Damascus: 67, A humanitarian security organisation: 101, An
international organisation in Syria: 175, An international security organisation: 204-205, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 225,
Lama Fakih (HRW): 282, REACH: 349, World Health Organization: 401
43
Christoper Kozak: 230
44
A Damascus-based lawyer: 9, An international organisation in Syria: 182, Mercy Corps: 323, Syria Direct: 367
45
A Damascus-based lawyer: 9, A humanitarian security organisation: 94, Syria Direct: 367, World Health Organization
(WHO): 405
46
A Damascus-based lawyer, A humanitarian security organisation: 94, Lama Fakih (HRW): 284
47
A Damascus-based lawyer: 7, Diplomatic source in Beirut: 41, Diplomatic source in Damascus: 69, A humanitarian
organisation: 74, A humanitarian security organisation: 104-106, An international human rights organisation: 152, An
international organisation in Syria: 180, An international security organisation: 207, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 246,
World Health Organization (WHO): 405
48
A Damascus-based lawyer: 7-9, A diplomatic source in Damascus: 69, A humanitarian security organisation: 104-
105, An international security organisation: 207, Lama Fakih: 284-286, Mercy Corps: 322
49
The New York Times reported on this incident on 15 March 2017:
Suicide Bombing Hits Justice Building in Damascus,
Syria;
The New York Times, 15 March 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/world/middleeast/syria-damascus-
bomb-palace-justice-assad.html
(ed.)
50
A Damascus-based lawyer: 7, A diplomatic source in Beirut: 41, A diplomatic source in Damascus: 67, An
international human rights organisation: 152, An international organisation in Syria: 180, Christopher Kozak (ISW):
222, Syria Direct: 361
51
A diplomatic source in Damascus: 67, An international organisation in Syria: 180, An international security
organisation: 207, Lama Fakih (HRW): 286, Syria Direct: 362
52
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 222, Mercy Corps: 322
53
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 222
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report. Although one source indicated increased success of Islamic State in conducting suicide attacks
54
and
another source said that attacks, where a combination of shelling and explosives were used, happened
more frequently than compared to previous years,
55
sources generally assessed the frequency of
insurgency incidents inside Damascus City as relatively low.
56
One source mentioned that the rate of
assassinations and car bombings against government officials and buildings inside Damascus City had
generally decreased since 2015-16, and the recent months had been quiet in terms of suicide bombers in
Damascus City compared to 2016 where suicide attacks were more frequent.
57
According to a humanitarian
security organisation, 12 suicide detonations (in ten events) were recorded in Damascus and its immediate
surroundings in 2017.
58
Mercy Corps estimated that the total number of car bombs during the past seven
years was 20 to 25 and that there had been only a handful of assassination attempts.
59
Several suicide attacks were intercepted at checkpoints on the rim of or outside Damascus City.
60
A
humanitarian security organisation said that the number of suicide vehicles intercepted at checkpoints in
2017 were less than in 2016, suggesting a better capacity of Islamic State to bypass security.
61
Lama Fakih
(HRW) said that reported attacks seemed to be more infrequent than earlier.
62
A humanitarian security organisation said that major civilian casualties from suicide bombs or attacks
happened, for instance when a bomber
en route
to his target was intercepted, chased and cornered by
security forces and then decided to detonate. However, there was no indication that the ‘Baghdad style’
bombings in areas mainly frequented by civilians resulting in mass casualties were happening in
Damascus.
63
A humanitarian security organisation also highlighted that the Syrian society was still very
much a functioning police state with high level of surveillance including electronic surveillance and that the
security apparatus was still operating strongly in Damascus.
64
1.1.3. Updated security situation in Damascus City
The Government of Syria asserted full control of Eastern Ghouta in April 2018 after conducting evacuation
of a large number of opposition fighters and civilians from the area.
65
Since the government has retaken control of Eastern Ghouta, mortars are no longer striking Damascus city
from Eastern Ghouta.
66
A humanitarian security organisation: 104
Lama Fakih: 284
56
A humanitarian security organisation: 106, Heiko Wimmen (ICG): 311, Mercy Corps: 322, WHO: 405
57
Syria Direct: 362-367
58
A humanitarian security organisation: 104
59
Mercy Corps: 323
60
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 41, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 222
61
A humanitarian security organisation: 104
62
Lama Fakih (HRW): 286
63
A humanitarian security organisation: 105
64
A humanitarian security organization: 108
65
An international human rights organisation: 170, Syria Direct: 390; see also Christopher Kozak: 259 and Lama Fakih
(HRW): 303 who does not mention April as time of termination but describes the situation as of 21 May 2018 and 10
May 2018 respectively.
66
A diplomatic source in Damascus: 71, An international human rights organisation: 170, An international organisation
in Syria: 198, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 259, Danish Red Cross: 277, Mercy Corps: 346, Syria Direct: 390, World Health
Organization: 415
55
54
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On 21 May 2018. it was officially announced that the Damascus-area was controlled by the Syrian
authorities
67
.
68
During a major military operation against the armed opposition in the southern part of Damascus
(Yarmouk, Hajar al-Aswad and Babbila) in May 2018, indirect fire from the south did affect areas in
Damascus City,
69
particularly southern areas of the city like al-Midan
70
, Zahira
71
and Tadamon
72
. However,
the indirect fire threat had reduced significantly, and by accounts, the streets were busier and people less
concerned by the indirect fire than when the indirect fire came from Eastern Ghouta.
73
The sources’ anticipations about the future with regard to prevalence of insurgency in Damascus Province
were diverging. Most sources considered insurgency in Damascus City a possibility in the future.
74
While
some sources considered a rise in insurgency likely
75
, others anticipated that the current frequency of
suicide attacks would not change.
76
According to Christopher Kozak (ISW) and a humanitarian security
organization, the overall situation over the next year may not be comparable to Iraq, but Damascus City will
likely witness repeated spectacular attacks against civilian or government targets from time-to-time.
77
Contrary to this view, some sources did not expect that opposition groups would shift into an insurgency
mode as a new strategy against the Syrian government.
78
Mercy Corps considered that insurgency activity
in the future would be limited. The government’s security apparatus is very strong, and the experience has
showed that the security branches have strong networks of informants everywhere in Syria who monitor
the situation intensively and know what is going on in all areas, including recently retaken areas.
79
According to Mercy Corps, there has been no insurgency from opposition groups in areas which have been
recaptured by the government. The assassinations and car bombs, which have been carried out in these
areas, have mostly been part of an internal fight among pro-government militia groups for economic
interests.
80
An international security organisation expressed a different perception by saying that in areas
previously controlled by Islamic State such as Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, insurgency attacks carried out by
Islamic State persisted. Such incidents occurred four to six times monthly, even though the areas are almost
BBC reported the same on 21 May 2018; “Syria
war: Army takes full control of Damascus after ousting IS”,
BBC 21
May 2018
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44198304
68
A Damascus-based lawyer: 34, A humanitarian organisation: 91, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 260
69
A diplomatic source in Damascus: 72, A humanitarian security organisation: 134, An international human rights
organisation: 172, An international organisation in Syria: 199, An international security organisation: 219, Christopher
Kozak (ISW): 259, Syria Direct: 390, World Health Organization: 416
70
A humanitarian security organisation: 134, An international organisation in Syria: 199
71
A humanitarian security organisation: 134, An international organisation in Syria: 199
72
A humanitarian security organisation: 134
73
A humanitarian security organisation: 134
74
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 46, A humanitarian security organisation: 106+115, An international human rights
organisation: 158+172, An international security organisation: 211, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 259, Heiko Wimmen
(ICG): 315, Syria Direct: 399
75
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 46, Heiko Wimmen (ICG): 315, An international security organisation: 211,
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 238
76
Syria Direct: 399, A humanitarian security organisation: 106+115
77
A humanitarian security organisation: 106+115, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 238
78
A Damascus-based lawyer: 12, An international organisation in Syria: 188, Mercy Corps: 334
79
Mercy Corps: 334
80
Mercy Corps: 325
67
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completely cleared. The security incidents consisted of armed clashes, vehicle-borne improvised explosive
devices (VBIED), improvised explosive devices (IED) and suicide attacks.
81
From January to the beginning of May 2018, no confirmed suicide attacks in Damascus City were reported.
82
Mercy Corps said that there was one car bomb in Damascus in May 2018, but otherwise the city was
almost completely calm.
83
A humanitarian security organisation referred to a suspected unconfirmed
suicide attack reported on 9 May 2018 in the Maysaat area of Damascus,
84
and The National brought a
news story on the same date about a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) that exploded in
al-Mazraa, in front of the café at Maysaat Square, not far from the Russian Embassy.
85
This story was
confirmed by a diplomatic source in Damascus who said that two people were killed and fourteen injured.
86
1.2.
Prevalence of security incidents in Yarmouk and the extent and type of
casualties
1.2.1. Clashes
In mid-March 2018, in the Yarmouk Camp and other districts of Southern Damascus, episodes of ground
fighting posed a risk to civilians.
87
Due to lack of access to the area, it was difficult to verify or obtain
information about civilian casualties caused by clashes in the Yarmouk.
88
However, according to
Christopher Kozak (ISW), the main areas of violence remained largely unpopulated, resulting in relatively
lower civilian casualties compared to Eastern Ghouta.
89
Correspondingly, other sources assessed the
number of remaining civilians in Yarmouk to be low, as a substantial number of people had left the area
because of clashes.
90
1.2.2. Human rights violations
In mid-March 2018, Islamic State in the Yarmouk Camp and Hajar al-Aswad imposed most of the same
social structures and repressive elements as it did in areas under its control in Eastern Syria
91
, and there
An international security organisation: 211
A Damascus-based lawyer: 8, A humanitarian security organisation: 104, An international human rights
organisation: 158, An international security organisation: 207
83
Mercy Corps: 346
84
A humanitarian security organisation: 104
85
The National reported on 9 May 2018: ‘Two people were killed and several others wounded in a car bomb and
shellfire in Syria’s capital Damascus on Wednesday, state television said. “Two killed and 14 injured in terrorist attacks
on Damascus Tower and Maysat Square,” it reported. They struck at the tower in the central Marjeh Square district,
and the car bomb went off in the northeast of the city. Images of security forces gathered around a burnt-out skeleton
of a car in Maysat Square were broadcast on state television. The blast came as regime forces battle to flush out ISIS
from the southern districts of the capital, including Yarmouk and the adjacent Hajar Al Aswad neighbourhood.’
The national, 9 May 2018,
https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/two-killed-in-damascus-car-bomb-and-shellfire-
1.728695
[accessed 11 June 2018] (ed.)
86
A diplomatic source in Damascus: 71
87
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 234, REACH: 352; see also ‘A humanitarian security organisation: 111’ and ‘Amnesty
International 139’ mentioning clashes effecting the interior of the camp.
88
A humanitarian organisation: 78
89
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 234, REACH: 352
90
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 45, A humanitarian organisation: 75
91
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 235
82
81
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were also reports of execution of civilians by Islamic State.
92
Other opposition groups were, likewise,
responsible for various human rights violations committed against civilians in areas under their control in
southern Damascus.
93
A humanitarian security organisation said that there was an escalation of arrests,
floggings, public punishments and executions carried out by Islamic State during the first quarter of 2018.
94
1.2.3. Updated security situation in Yarmouk
In May 2018, pro-government forces launched a major military operation to seize the Hajar al-Aswad and
Yarmouk Camp Districts held by Islamic State in Southern Damascus.
95
The military escalation included
intense aerial and artillery bombardment of Hajar al-Aswad and Yarmouk Camp Districts.
96
The government
launched heavy bombardments on the Yarmouk area coupled with ground advances in more open urban
terrain.
97
When the government took control of these last opposition-held areas in Damascus Province,
‘reconciliations’ were agreed upon,
98
and the opposition in southern Damascus neighbourhoods saw at
least five rounds of relocation to northern Syria.
99
Armed opposition groups controlling the nearby area of
Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahm were reportedly evacuated to the North of the country in May 2018.
100
A
humanitarian security organisation said that Islamic State initially refused to ‘reconcile’ with the
government and just prior to the offensive, large numbers of civilian IDPs travelled eastwards into Yalda.
101
Islamic State in Southern Damascus later accepted a deal to evacuate from Damascus City to Eastern Syria
in late May 2018.
102
In connection with updating information on the security situation in Yarmouk (5 June 2018), a diplomatic
source in Beirut advised that the situation in Yarmouk was still not fully clear.
103
Yarmouk was subjected to
massive physical destruction due to the government’s recent operation.
104
At the end of May 2018, no
more than a few hundred civilians were remaining in Yarmouk.
105
A humanitarian security organisation
pointed to prevalence of unexploded ordnances (UXO) and explosive remnants of war (ERW) as a main
threat in Yarmouk after the fighting.
106
On top of this, it was assessed that the rubble was mixed with a very
high concentration of explosive remnants of war (ERW), which would be very hazardous to the former
residents of the camp if they tried to return now.
107
According to Danish Red Cross, in areas recently taken
by the government, there are a large number of manufactured ammunitions that have not gone off, and
civilians are at risk of being killed by these remnants of war. For this reason, in order to consider an area
92
93
A humanitarian organisation: 79
Amnesty International 139
94
A humanitarian security organisation: 111
95
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 260
96
A humanitarian security organisation: 134
97
A humanitarian security organisation: 135
98
A diplomatic source in Damascus: 71, Syria Direct: 391
99
A humanitarian security organisation: 135
100
An international human rights organisation: 171, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 260, Syria Direct: 396
101
A humanitarian security organisation: 135
102
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 260, Syria Direct: 396
103
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 65
104
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 65, Danish Red Cross: 278, Syria Direct: 395
105
A humanitarian organisation: 75 (footnote), Syria Direct: 398
106
A humanitarian security organisation: 135
107
Danish Red Cross: 278
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completely cleared, there will be a need for a centimetre by centimetre clearing of the areas. Armed
opposition groups often leave behind booby traps, thereby inflicting civilian casualties.
108
On 5 June 2018, the first UNRWA convoy in two years reached Palestinians refugees in Yalda.
109
1.3.
Prevalence of internally displaced persons in Damascus City
According to Christopher Kozak (ISW), in mid-March 2018, the number of internally displaced persons (IDP)
in Damascus City was estimated to be at least half a million with most living in rented housing or staying
with family members.
110
The influx of IDPs in Damascus had increased concurrently with the government
regaining control of more areas in Eastern Ghouta.
111
A humanitarian security organisation said that from
January to March 2018, there had been no significant movement of IDPs from other areas in Syria to
Damascus.
112
There are no IDP camps or IDP centres in Damascus City
113
, and IDPs in Damascus appear to be dispersed
throughout the city
114
. The type of housing IDPs are staying in depends on their financial means.
115
There
are also IDPs within Damascus City living on the street.
116
Mercy Corps said that IDPs originating from Deir
ez-Zor or other hotspots would have difficulties in accessing housing in Damascus City, since IDPs would
need to have an official approval from the security service in order to rent an apartment.
117
In areas that have recently come under the government’s control, such as areas in Eastern Ghouta, civilians
have had to go through security screening processes in order to be able to enter into Damascus City.
118
A
humanitarian organisation said that in general, men between the age of 15 and 60 years coming to
Damascus City from opposition-held areas underwent a higher degree of scrutiny and that it was easier for
women and children to leave Eastern Ghouta, provided that they had a sponsor.
119
Correspondingly, WHO
said that there were some young men among the IPDs from Eastern Ghouta, but most of them stayed
behind in Eastern Ghouta when other IDPs left.
120
Danish Red Cross: 269
UNRWA,
First UNRWA convoy in Two Years Reaches Palestine refugees in the Damascus suburb of Yalda
available
at:
https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/first-unrwa-convoy-two-years-reaches-palestine-refugees-
damascus-suburb
[accessed 13 June 2018]
110
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 243
111
Lama Fakih (HRW): 290-304, World Health Organization (WHO): 410
112
A humanitarian security organisation: 119
113
Amnesty International: 141, An international human rights organisation: 159, An international organisation in Syria:
190
114
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 48, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 243, Danish Red Cross: 270, World Health Organization
(WHO): 409
115
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 48, Lama Fakih (HRW): 288, World Health Organization (WHO): 409
116
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 51, Lama Fakih (HRW): 288
117
Mercy Corps: 335
118
A humanitarian organisation: 85, Lama Fakih (HRW): 290
119
A humanitarian organisation: 85
120
World Health Organization: 408
109
108
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1.4.
Freedom of movement in Damascus province, including impact of
ethnic/religious background, gender, economic situation and place of
origin
1.4.1. Freedom of movement in Damascus City
1.4.1.1.
Checkpoints affecting daily movement
Movement in Damascus City is slowed down due to checkpoints, however not completely stopped.
121
An
international human rights organisation considered, however, checkpoints an obstacle to freedom of
movement for the citizens.
122
1.4.1.2.
Purpose of checkpoints
The purpose of the checkpoints is to ensure security, to catch people on the wanted lists and people
avoiding conscription.
123
1.4.1.3.
Prevalence and locations of checkpoints
There are two types of checkpoints: mobile and fixed
124
, and the checkpoints are dispersed across the
city.
125
Checkpoints are also placed at the main entrances to the city.
126
According to an international
organisation in Syria, checkpoints are concentrated around key areas such as Damascus International
Airport, Mezzeh Military Airbase, the Syrian Presidential Palace and the Old City of Damascus.
127
The number of checkpoints in the city has reduced markedly compared with prior years.
128
In this context, a
diplomatic source in Beirut and Mercy Corps said that most checkpoints were now (i.e. March 2018) found
close to frontlines.
129
One source, however, advised that the number of checkpoints had increased
throughout the city due to the current tight security situation in the city and the government being
concerned about terrorist attacks.
130
WHO said that while the number of checkpoints had decreased in
some areas, new ones had popped up in other areas.
131
There have also been instances of the National
Defence Forces setting up illegal checkpoints at their own will.
132
In May 2018, an international organisation in Syria noted that since the meeting with the delegation in
March 2018, the number of checkpoints in the east and south of Damascus had been reduced, and the
Danish Red Cross: 272, Syria Direct: 375
An international human rights organisation: 160
123
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 58, A humanitarian security organisation: 124-125, Amnesty International: 142, An
international human rights organisation: 165, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 248, 253, Lama Fakih (HRW): 294, World
Health Organization (WHO): 413
124
An international human rights organisation: 161, Lama Fakih (HRW): 293, Syria Direct: 375
125
A humanitarian security organisation: 123, An international human rights organisation: 161-162, Christopher Kozak
(ISW): 245, Lama Fakih (HRW): 293, Syria Direct: 375, World Health Organization (WHO): 411
126
Danish Red Cross: 272, Syria Direct: 375, World Health Organization (WHO): 411
127
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 245
128
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 53, An international organisation in Syria: 192, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 247, Mercy
Corps: 336, Syria Direct: 376
129
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 53, Mercy Corps: 336
130
An international human rights organisation: 162
131
World Health Organization (WHO): 411
132
Mercy Corps: 336
122
121
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main road between Damascus and Homs is reopened.
133
Syria Direct confirmed the reduction of
checkpoints in the city, but pointed out that there were still checkpoints that prevented civilians from
entering certain recently recaptured areas such as south Damascus and Eastern Ghouta.
134
1.4.1.4.
Checkpoint procedures
There were divergent understandings among sources with regard to whether there was one procedure
according to which checkpoints were operated.
Whilst an international organisation in Syria said that procedures at all checkpoints throughout Damascus
City were the same regardless of which security agency controlled them, and that checkpoints were
coordinated at higher levels,
135
other sources considered that the procedure was not framed and differed
depending on a number of factors. Those factors ranged from whether the person passing the checkpoint
was ‘a local known to the guards’ to individual differences among guards in charge at the checkpoint and
finally to the operating authority in charge and time of the day.
136
Sources pointed to various degrees of ID checks and screening of cars for explosives conducted at
checkpoints.
137
While some sources suggested that ID cards were checked at all checkpoints,
138
a
humanitarian security organisation said that ID cards were checked randomly inside the city and not at
every checkpoint.
139
A humanitarian security organisation added that checkpoints in more affluent
neighbourhoods or neighbourhoods surrounding the presidential palace would often conduct a more
rigorous ID card check.
140
The level of scrutiny at checkpoints also depends on which government entity that controls the checkpoint.
According to a humanitarian security organisation, the Fourth Division of the Syrian Arab Army checks
ID cards rigorously, while the less professional National Defence Forces are not that thorough.
142
According
to Christopher Kozak (ISW), the Syrian Air Force Intelligence reportedly runs their checkpoints with a
stricter adherence to regulations and more profound scrutiny check compared to the Syrian Arab Army or
Syrian National Defence Forces. Syrian Air Force Intelligence checkpoints are reportedly concentrated in the
western part of Damascus City near Mezzeh Military Air Base and the Syrian Presidential Palace.
143
An
international organisation in Syria noted that it was only at checkpoints at the northern entrance to the city
where people were checked more thoroughly.
144
141
Danish Red Cross said that there were two lines through every checkpoint, one regular and one privileged
line. Vehicles travelling through the privileged line are not held up for long, whereas regular people might
An international organisation in Syria: 197
Syria Direct: 393
135
An international organisation in Syria: 196, Mercy Corps: 339
136
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 56, World Health Organization (WHO): 413
137
A Damascus-based lawyer: 15, A diplomatic source in Beirut: 56, A humanitarian security organisation: 123, An
international human rights organisation: 164, An international organisation in Syria: 194, Christopher Kozak (ISW):
248, Syria Direct: 376, World Health Organization (WHO): 413
138
A Damascus-based lawyer: 15, A diplomatic source in Beirut: 56
139
A humanitarian security organisation: 123
140
A humanitarian security organisation: 123
141
A humanitarian security organisation: 123, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 249
142
A humanitarian security organisation: 123
143
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 249
144
An international organisation in Syria: 194
134
133
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be held up for hours to pass through though this does not happen at every checkpoint. At some
checkpoints, the checks appear very cursory whilst at others they are more thorough.
145
Mercy Corps noted
that authorities at checkpoints did not pull the cars aside and check them as they did before, which was
due to an improved security situation.
146
Syria Direct mentioned that the most intense security checks were conducted at the entrance to the city.
147
1.4.1.5.
Wanted lists distributed to checkpoints
The sources did not agree on whether there was one master/unified database or several wanted lists.
Likewise, there was uncertainty about the extent of use of computers and access to digital databases at
checkpoints. Sources mentioned paper lists of wanted individuals distributed to checkpoint.
148
Some
sources said that it was only checkpoints at the entrances of Damascus City or outside the city that had
access to digital databases,
149
while others mentioned checkpoints inside Damascus having computers with
access to information about wanted persons.
150
Christopher Kozak (ISW) said that officers at checkpoints
with no access to digital lists could call some kind of clearing centre in order to cross-check the status of
specific individuals approaching checkpoints in terms of whether they were wanted.
151
According to some sources, the different branches of the security service do not always coordinate or share
their wanted lists among each other.
152
This is due to the fact that there is an internal competition among
the security services running the checkpoints where they try to prove that they are the best and most
capable when it comes to catching persons on the wanted lists.
153
Christopher Kozak (ISW) highlighted that the wanted lists were imperfect.
154
Sources noted that there had
been examples of individuals mistaken for others on the wanted list
155
for instance due to name
similarities
156
, individuals being released by one security branch and then immediately detained again by
another
157
, individuals wanted for conscription successfully navigating checkpoints and being able to exit
the country as well as individuals detained at checkpoints despite not having any issues with the regime in
the first place
158
. Sources also mentioned cases of individuals whose names had appeared on wanted lists
because someone had made false accusation against them due to private or commercial reasons.
159
Danish Red Cross: 273
Mercy Corps: 337
147
Syria Direct: 379
148
A Damascus-based lawyer: 15, A diplomatic source in Beirut: 54, Amnesty International: 145, An international
human rights organisation: 164, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 256, Syria Direct: 377
149
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 54, A humanitarian security organisation: 120, An international organisation in Syria:
194-195, World Health Organization (WHO): 412
150
A Damascus-based lawyer: 15, Mercy Corps: 338, Syria Direct: 377
151
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 255
152
A Damascus-based lawyer: 14, Amnesty International: 145, Mercy Corps: 338
153
A Damascus-based lawyer: 14, An international organisation in Syria: 196
154
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 255
155
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 255
156
Amnesty International: 145, An international human rights organisation:164, Syria Direct: 380
157
Amnesty International: 145
158
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 255
159
A Damascus-based lawyer: 16, A diplomatic source in Beirut: 59, Amnesty International: 143-144
146
145
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Wanted lists distributed to checkpoints are compiled based on information retrieved from either
surveillance, investigations or from instances where the government regains control of a previously
opposition-held area and discover lists of persons involved with the opposition.
160
Mercy Corps had heard
that the list of wanted persons in Syria contained one and a half million names, including those wanted for
military service, criminals and political activists. According to Mercy Corps, this wanted list also contained
information on which security service branch that had listed the individual as wanted.
161
1.4.1.6.
Treatment of family members of wanted individuals approaching checkpoints
Family members or wives of persons affiliated with the opposition were at risk of facing discriminatory
treatment, harassment or detention at checkpoints.
162
There have been cases of women being detained
together with their children in order to put pressure on their husbands or family members, who are wanted
by the government.
163
Contrarily, a Damascus-based lawyer said that there had not been cases of family members of a wanted
person being subjected to questioning or harassment or being detained when approaching checkpoints in
Damascus. This is because the security services would usually not hesitate to search for and arrest the
relatives right away instead of waiting for them approaching a checkpoint if the person were highly
wanted.
164
Christopher Kozak (ISW) considered that the reason that there had not been any reports on family
members of armed opposition fighters experiencing difficulties at checkpoints recently was that such
persons had either gone into hiding or had left government-held areas in Damascus City.
165
Impact of ethnic and religious background or place of origin on treatment at
checkpoints
The sources did not agree on what impact ethnic and religious background or place of origin had on
freedom of movement and treatment by authorities at checkpoints.
According to some sources, people travelling to or from opposition-held areas would undergo more
scrutiny at checkpoints.
166
Other sources said that people originating from certain areas, e.g. Darayya or
other areas considered hotspots could in some instances face scrutiny, harassment or difficulties when
passing a checkpoint.
167
Contrarily, according to an international organisation in Syria, usually, checkpoint officers do not stop
people due to their backgrounds; many internally displaced persons (IDP) from Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor live
in Damascus, and they move around freely without facing difficulties at checkpoints.
168
1.4.1.7.
A Damascus-based lawyer: 16
Mercy Corps: 338
162
A humanitarian security organisation: 124, Amnesty International: 147-148, An international human rights
organisation: 164 + 167, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 254, Lama Fakih (HRW): 294, Syria Direct: 380-381
163
Amnesty International: 148, An international human rights organisation: 167
164
A Damascus-based lawyer: 18
165
Christopher Kozak (ISW): 254
166
A Damascus-based lawyer: 17, A humanitarian security organisation: 121, Amnesty International: 146
167
Lama Fakih (HRW): 294, An international human rights organisation: 164, Mercy Corps: 339, Syria Direct: 380
168
An international organisation in Syria: 193
161
160
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HRW had anecdotal information that Sunni men of a certain age would be stopped and asked questions
more often than Alawites or Christians.
169
Amnesty International advised that since 2014, persons with
Sunni background or persons from Islamic State controlled areas risked being subjected to discriminatory
treatment at checkpoints, although the source was not aware of the actual extent of such treatment.
170
On the other hand, an international organisation in Syria considered that having a Sunni background was
not, in itself, an obstacle for freedom of movement as many soldiers at checkpoints had Sunni background
themselves.
171
According to this source, if the checkpoint personnel are suspicious of someone, it is mostly
due to other factors, for instance that he/she carries a huge amount of money etc.
172
According to a humanitarian security organisation, certain areas of Damascus City are off limits for certain
ethnicities, such as the area surrounding the Sayyida Zainab shrine or the Bab al-Salam area, where Sunnis
and sometimes Christians are either not allowed to go or are asked specifically about their purpose of going
into the area. Bab Saghir and Sayyida Aisha, both traditionally religiously mixed areas, have during the last
one to five years gradually changed to predominantly Shia areas – although at present not ‘off limit’
areas.
173
The international organisation in Syria further noted that there had been cases where ethnic and religious
background or place of origin had an impact on freedom of movement and treatment by authorities at
checkpoints, but they were few, and in general, people did not face difficulties passing through checkpoints
and moving around.
174
A Damascus-based lawyer advised that there was no discrimination at checkpoints
in Damascus.
175
1.4.1.8.
Treatment of other profiles at checkpoints
Individuals suspected of being in contact with a wanted person was also mentioned by sources as another
profile being at risk of facing discriminatory treatment, harassment or detention at checkpoints, and
sources mentioned examples of a wrong number call or a call from a friend in East Ghouta as enough to put
someone under suspicion.
176
Amnesty International further said that any person, who was an activist,
human rights lawyer, a humanitarian worker or anyone who had made an anti-government post on
Facebook, was at risk of being detained.
177
An international human rights organisation advised that
unaccompanied women were extremely vulnerable when passing checkpoints.
178
169
170
Lama Fakih (HRW): 294
Amnesty International: 146
171
An international organisation in Syria: 193
172
An international organisation in Syria: 193
173
A humanitarian security organisation: 126
174
An international organisation in Syria: 193
175
A Damascus-based lawyer: 17
176
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 60, A humanitarian security organisation: 124-133
177
Amnesty International: 142
178
An international human rights organisation: 167
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1.4.1.9.
Corruption and extortion at checkpoints
There were reports of widespread corruption and of extortion at checkpoints in Damascus City.
179
According to Syria Direct, checkpoint personnel had allegedly recently been extracting large bribes from
civilians at checkpoints by the entrance to the city.
180
1.4.2. Freedom of movement in Yarmouk
In March 2018, the southern parts of Damascus Province were classified as besieged since before 2016, and
freedom of movement for civilians with few exemptions were limited to Islamic State areas or adjacent
armed opposition areas.
181
There were, thus, only few entrances into the area,
182
and as a rule, there was
no movement from Yarmouk to the government-held areas of Damascus.
183
The possibility to move in and
out during the conflict had, however, been fluctuating. In the first quarter of 2018, some people were able
to move in and out of the area for medical reasons.
184
In addition, students were often able to leave the
Yarmouk Camp to study and to take their exams in neighbouring towns, and then return to Yarmouk
afterwards.
185
According to a humanitarian security organisation, access to the Yarmouk camp was very tightly controlled
under Islamic State and was often closed for months. Islamic State posed travel restrictions for all males
between 18 and 45 as they were considered to be of fighting age. Travel for other civilians, e.g. students,
medical cases and government employees, was severely restricted, and Islamic State confiscated all
documents, including ID-cards, of civilians who left the camp, thereby forcing them to return, since
documents are needed for travel and everyday movement in government-held Syria. Furthermore, people
from an Islamic State controlled area, who approached the authorities in order to get new papers, were
perceived as Islamic State sympathizers and faced a real risk of being detained.
186
Reports suggested that apart from a general fear of Islamic State, freedom of movement inside Yarmouk
and Hajar al-Aswad had been limited by strict rules imposed on population in the area by Islamic State, for
instance strict rules for how women should be dressed in public spaces.
187
2. Returning to Syria, including entry in Syria via Damascus International
Airport
2.1.
General pattern regarding return to Syria
Before Syrians return from abroad, they will typically try to find out whether they have an outstanding issue
with the Syrian authorities through friends, relatives or other personal contacts that are in the security
An international human rights organisation: 163, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 250 – 251, A diplomatic source in Beirut:
57, A humanitarian security organisation: 122
180
Syria Direct: 379
181
REACH: 351
182
A humanitarian security organisation: 127
183
A humanitarian security organisation: 129
184
A humanitarian organisation: 86
185
A humanitarian organisation: 77, Syria Direct: 371
186
A humanitarian security organisation: 128
187
REACH: 355
179
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services.
188
According to a diplomatic source in Beirut, there are 17 different branches of the security
services in Syria with each branch drawing up their own lists of wanted individuals, and it is, thus, difficult
for Syrians abroad to find out whether they are wanted by the regime, which leads to a reluctance to
return.
189
Correspondingly, other sources noted that people who returned could not be completely certain
on how they would be perceived by the regime when they return.
190
Syria Direct knew people who had been travelling in and out of the airport several times, and then all of the
sudden were arrested for just one Facebook post deemed to be an act of activism.
191
Lama Fakih (HRW)
said that there was very little information on how returnees from Europe were treated upon their return.
192
Mercy Corps noted that how people were treated upon return may also depend on the officer in charge at
the border.
193
Syria Direct pointed to cases of people realising upon return that their file against their
expectations were not clean. However, the source underlined that such cases are limited.
194
Reliable figures regarding returns from abroad are hard to come by,
195
but the number of returnees is
generally estimated to be low.
196
Danish Red Cross assumed that there had not been any return to
Damascus.
197
WHO considered though that many Syrians had returned to Damascus City from abroad.
Especially men of military age, who had lived outside the country for more than four years, were now
coming back because they could now pay the fee exempting them from military service. However, the
source did not know the exact number of returnees who have come back to Syria from abroad.
198
Although not able to verify the information, REACH stated that there had been reports about some Syrians
who returned from Jordan through land borders to areas in Syria not controlled by the government.
199
Lama Fakih (HRW) noted that there had been mass expulsions of Syrians from Jordan.
200
According to Lama Fakih (HRW), there have been reports of over 10,000 returns from Lebanon.
201
Some of
these returns happened through negotiated deals. Others have returned because of a loss of legal status in
Lebanon.
202
Similarly, it is the Danish Red Cross’ view that larger flows from abroad often happen because
neighbouring host countries push Syrian refugees back.
203
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 63, Heiko Wimmen (ICG): 317, Mercy Corps: 340, Syria Direct: 385, A humanitarian
security organisation: 132
189
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 63
190
Heiko Wimmen (ICG): 317, Syria Direct: 386
191
Syria Direct 386
192
Lama Fakih (HRW): 301
193
Mercy Corps: 344
194
Syria Direct: 386
195
A diplomatic source in Beirut: 62, A humanitarian security organisation: 130
196
A humanitarian organisation: 88, A humanitarian security organisation: 130, Christopher Kozak (ISW): 258, Danish
Red Cross: 275, Lama Fakih (HRW): 301
197
Danish Red Cross: 275
198
World Health Organization (WHO): 414
199
REACH: 356
200
Lama Fakih (HRW): 298
201
Lama Fakih (HRW): 296-297
202
For more information, the source referred to: Human Rights Watch,
Lebanon: Refugees in Border Zone at Risk –
Arsal Conditions Pressure Them to Return to Syria,
20 September 2017, available at:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/20/lebanon-refugees-border-zone-risk
[accessed 17 May 2018]
203
Red Cross: 275
188
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Lama Fakih also noted that Turkey had closed its borders and conducted mass expulsions, which was widely
documented. There are currently speculations that Turkey will utilize its recent takeover of Afrin to create
an area that will serve as a hub for refugees previously residing in Turkey.
204
2.2.
Entry in Syria via Damascus International Airport
Damascus International Airport is open, and people are travelling through the airport.
205
However, Lama
Fakih (HRW) highlighted that most Syrians returning from host countries in the region used the land
borders to return
206
, and Mercy Corps considered that Syrians who had lived abroad for a long time usually
used the Syrian-Lebanese land border to enter Syria.
Treatment of returnees at Damascus International Airport is a subject that is difficult to obtain
corroborated information about.
207
A humanitarian security organisation considered that the airport was strictly controlled by the Air Force
Intelligence and heavily militarized.
208
From public reporting, Lama Fakih (HRW) knew that there may have been few cases of Syrians returning
through the airport, but it is not common practice, and HRW did not have corroborated information on
how they were treated by the authorities upon arrival.
209
The source anticipated that broadly speaking,
people who had fled to Europe, particularly men, would be treated with suspicion in the event of their
return to Syria.
210
Syria Direct stated that it was not uncommon for the Syrian Intelligence apparatus (al-
Mukhabarat)
to follow up with and investigate Syrians—especially men—who had recently returned to the
country and to Damascus specifically.
211
Syria Direct noted that there was a difference between people who left Syria before or after 2011 in terms
of security checks upon return as those who left Syria before 2011 were not met with the same amount of
suspicion upon return as persons who left after 2011. However, Syria Direct mentioned a concrete example
of artists, who left Syria prior to 2011 and who were making art in support of the opposition while staying
abroad. These people were arrested upon return to Syria.
212
If a person is on a wanted list and enter Syria through Damascus Airport, he or she will be caught in the
airport by the Syrian authorities.
213
According to a Damascus-based lawyer, if people were not on any wanted lists, the Syrian authorities would
in general not ask about what people did outside the country
214
and low-profile Sunni people who had lived
Lama Fakih (HRW): 299
A Damascus-based lawyer: 19, Syria Direct: 383
206
Lama Fakih (HRW): 300, Mercy Corps: 343
207
A humanitarian security organisation: 132, Lama Fakih (HRW): 301
208
A humanitarian security organisation: 132
209
Lama Fakih (HRW): 301
210
As an elaboration to the source’s statement, the source referred to this article: The Irish Times,
Arrests and torture
of Syrian refugees returning home reported – Evidence grows of systematic abuse of vast numbers of Syrian going back
from Europe,
17 March 2018, available at:
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/arrests-and-torture-
of-syrian-refugees-returning-home-reported-1.3429762
[accessed 17 May 2018]
211
Syria Direct: 387
212
Syria Direct: 384
213
A Damascus-based lawyer: 20, A humanitarian security organisation: 132
214
A Damascus-based lawyer: 21
205
204
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1929384_0025.png
abroad for a while would not have a problem returning to Syria through the airport.
215
However, people
who have worked in certain countries, for instance Iraq, might be asked to come to an interview with a
branch of the security service to clarify why they worked there.
216
In continuation hereof, Mercy Corps said
that if a person had visa and stamps from Turkey in his or her passports, the authorities would stop this
person upon arrival and ask questions about his/her stay abroad.
217
2.3.
Consequences of illegal exit
According to a Damascus-based lawyer, illegal exit will be revealed at the border when they check the
passenger’s name digitally against a database available at the border. If there is no access to the database,
illegal exit can still be found out by checking the passengers’ travel documents for exit stamp.
218
Correspondingly, Syria Direct said that a travel document would reveal how a person left the country.
219
The Damascus-based lawyer advised that basically, people who left the country illegally would not return
through an official border, as they would be punished for their illegal exit, and they would certainly be
brought in by the security service for investigation.
220
The Damascus-based lawyer explained that the punishment for having exited illegally depended on
whether the illegal exit was viewed strictly as a legal issue or also as a security issue.
221
According to Art.263-270 of the Syrian Penal Code, the punishment for Illegal exit, when viewed as a
security issue, may vary and can entail up to 25 years of imprisonment. For instance, if the authorities have
evidence that a person has a connection with certain groups outside the country, they will charge a person
for cooperating with an enemy of the state.
222
According to Presidential Decree 8/2016 of 17.02.2016 added to other Pardons of 02.05.2012 and
18.11.2013 and 25.07.2015, all low-profile refugees, i.e. persons, whose names are not on the wanted list
and who have only left the country shortly due to fighting and bombardments, will be eligible for a
pardon.
223
Those who return and are not pardoned within 24 hours will be kept for three months for having left
illegally.
224
However, the Damascus-based lawyer mentioned that there had been instances where the Syrian
authorities had looked the other way with regards to the illegal exit of refugees from Syria. This has been
the case for refugees who have fled the country due to and in direct connection with specific fighting
215
216
A Damascus-based lawyer: 20
A Damascus-based lawyer: 21
217
Mercy Corps: 341
218
A Damascus-based lawyer: 23
219
Syria Direct: 388
220
A Damascus-based lawyer: 24
221
A Damascus-based lawyer: 26
222
A Damascus-based lawyer: 27
223
A Damascus-based lawyer: 28
224
A Damascus-based lawyer: 29
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1929384_0026.png
incidents, but who then have returned shortly thereafter, for instance within a day or a shorter period of
time.
225
According to the Damascus-based lawyer, a pardon for persons, who have left Syria through an unofficial
border, was also issued in 2017. The pardon states that such persons should visit the Syrian embassy in the
country in which they are staying in order to legalise their status. The authorities will subsequently conduct
an investigation as to why that person has left the country illegally. People, who have been cleared through
an embassy, will not be investigated or face any other reprisals for their illegal exit upon return to Syria. All
low-profile refugees would be able to do this.
226
A humanitarian security organisation and Lama Fakih (HRW) stated that persons who had left Syria illegally
were considered traitors by the Syrian regime
227
and the humanitarian security organisation further
assumed that having left illegally would raise suspicions about a person.
228
225
226
A Damascus-based lawyer: 30
A Damascus-based lawyer: 25
227
A humanitarian security organisation: 133, Lama Fakih (HRW): 301+302
228
A humanitarian security organisation: 133
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Consulted sources
Oral sources
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
A Damascus-based lawyer
A diplomatic source in Beirut
A diplomatic source in Damascus
A humanitarian organisation
A humanitarian security organisation
Amnesty International
An international human rights organisation
An international organisation in Syria
An international security organization
Christopher Kozak, Institute for the Study of War
Danish Red Cross
International Crisis Group
Lama Fakih, Human Rights Watch, Beirut Lebanon
Mercy Corps - Humanitarian Access Team (HAT)
REACH
Syria Direct
World Health Organization (WHO)
Written sources
BBC,
Syria war: Army takes full control of Damascus after ousting IS,
21 May
2018
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44198304
[accessed 18 June 2018]
Human Rights Watch,
Lebanon: Refugees in Border Zone at Risk – Arsal Conditions Pressure Them to Return
to Syria,
20 September 2017
https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/20/lebanon-refugees-border-zone-risk
[accessed 18 June 2018]
The Irish Times,
Arrests and torture of Syrian refugees returning home reported – Evidence grows of
systematic abuse of vast numbers of Syrian going back from Europe,
17 March 2018
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/arrests-and-torture-of-syrian-refugees-returning-
home-reported-1.3429762
[accessed 18 June 2018]
The national,
Two killed in Damascus car bomb and shellfire,
9 May 2018,
https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/two-killed-in-damascus-car-bomb-and-shellfire-1.728695
[accessed 18 June 2018]
The New York Times,
Suicide Bombing Hits Justice Building in Damascus, Syria;
15 March 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/15/world/middleeast/syria-damascus-bomb-palace-justice-assad.html
[accessed 18 June 2018]
UNRWA,
First UNRWA convoy in Two Years Reaches Palestine refugees in the Damascus suburb of Yalda,
5
June 2018
https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/first-unrwa-convoy-two-years-reaches-
palestine-refugees-damascus-suburb
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Appendix A: Meeting minutes
A Damascus-based lawyer
Damascus, 20 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
1. Damascus City is fully controlled by the Syrian authorities. The security apparatus in the Syrian
capital consists of Syrian Arab Army (al-Jaysh
al-Arabi as-Suri,
يرو ا ر ا ش ا
) units and various
branches of the security apparatus.
2. The security situation in Damascus City is affected by the fighting in Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet
Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
) in terms of shelling hitting in the city. The frequency of the
shelling fluctuates.
3. Mortar attacks affect the life of people in Damascus, but only to a small degree. People in
Damascus City has gotten used to the circumstances that they are living under. In those instances
where the number of projectiles hitting in Damascus is very high or if there have been many
casualties, people often stay indoors. However, in general the inhabitants of Damascus try to lead
a normal life, which includes going to work as well as going out to restaurants etc.
4. In mid-March 2018, the situation with regard to shelling of Damascus City has improved compared
to the situation a couple of weeks before. In the end of February 2018/beginning of March 2018,
there was a series of days where forty to fifty rockets or other projectiles a day struck the city.
After the Syrian Arab Army (al-Jaysh
al-Arabi as-Suri,
يرو ا ر ا ش ا
) has entered Eastern
Ghouta, the shelling has been reduced to between three and five incidents each day. The source
considers the falling number of mortar attacks as an indication of the diminishing capacity of
opposition groups.
5. The type of projectiles that hit Damascus City is primarily old unsophisticated mortar weapons. In
addition, homemade rockets are used. These weapons are not good for aiming at particular
targets, which has resulted in civilian casualties. In the beginning of March 2018, a school in Bab
Touma (
و ب
) was hit, and three students were killed. In February 2018, a mortar hit a bus, and
eight people were killed. In January 2018, a school bus in Bab Touma was hit, and 21 people were
killed.
6. The places in Damascus City that are primarily hit by mortar rockets are the Abbasayeen Square
(Sahet
al-‘Abbasayeen,
ن
ا
), Zabadani Street (Sharea’
az-Zabadani,
اد ز ا عر
), Shaghour
Street (Sharea’
ash-Shaghour,رو
ا عر
), the Bab Touma neighbourhood and the fruit and
vegetable market in Old Damascus (
د ا ق د).
A majority of mortars have struck the old city in
Damascus.
7. During 2017, a few suicide attacks were seen in Damascus City. One of these attacks took place at
the Palace of Justice (Qasr
al-Adl,
لد ار
) in March 2017. Thirty-one lawyers and civilians died in
this attack and sixty got wounded. In July 2017, two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices
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(VBIED) were detonated at the Liberation Square (Sahet
at-Tahrir,
ر ر ا
in this attack and fifty-three got wounded.
). Twenty people died
8. In the first quarter of 2018, no suicide attacks have been reported in Damascus City.
9. Around four to five government officials and military officers were killed by car bombs in
Damascus City in 2017. In addition, a lawyer who worked with the governor of Damascus was
assassinated with a gun. He opened his door at home and was shot immediately.
Security situation in Yarmouk
10. A wing of Islamic State is based in Hajar al-Aswad (دو
!ا ر ا).
This armed faction has attacked the
Palestinian refugee camp called the Yarmouk Camp (Mukhayyim
al-Yarmouk,
كو ر ا م $
). In
addition, the same people are fighting in Qadam (مد
ا).
However, everything around the Yarmouk
Camp and Hajar al-Aswad is controlled by the Syrian Arab Army.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus Province
11. The source anticipates that the government’s operation in Eastern Ghouta will come to an end
soon, and the opposition fighters will enter an agreement with the government and be evacuated
to Idlib (ب
دإ)
or other areas.
12. After the fighting in Eastern Ghouta is over, the strategy of the armed opposition will change
although it is not clear yet what their new strategy would be, and the opposition has not
succeeded in outlining a common plan or idea about a new rule for Syria. However, the source
does not believe that opposition groups will shift into insurgency mode as a new strategy.
13. Syrian authorities are reluctant to use the Syrian Arab Army to fight armed opposition groups in
the southern outskirts of Damascus. Instead, they liaise with pro-government Palestinian troops in
Yarmouk to support them in fighting Islamic State and other anti-government armed groups in the
area. Unofficially, Syrian security forces will supply the Palestine Liberation Army (Jaysh
al-Tahrir
al-Filastini,
PLA,
ط &' ا ر ر ا ش
) with weapons, and they will provide air force support during
PLA-attacks. Such attacks will be launched as soon as the fighting in Eastern Ghouta is finished, and
it will probably not be a long campaign (maybe one week), since Islamic State in the Yarmouk-area
is not that strong and resourceful.
Freedom of movement in Damascus Province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
14. Inside Damascus City there are checkpoints run by different divisions under the security apparatus,
e.g. the Air Force Intelligence (
و ا تار $ ا),
the Republican Guard (يرو)
ا سر ا),
the 4th
Armoured Division (
ار ا ر' ا),
the Political Security Directorate (
ا ن !ا ةرادإ)
and the Military
Intelligence
( ر- ا تار $ ا).
The different branches of the security service do not always
coordinate or share their wanted lists. This is due to the fact that there is an internal competition
among the security services running the checkpoints where they try to prove that they are the best
and most capable when it comes to catching persons on the wanted lists. As a part of this
competition, they may check up on each other’s work. Sometimes, when they catch a person on
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the list, they do not inform each other about it, partly because they do not trust each other and
also because they want to arrest other persons through the arrested.
15. The primary purpose of the checkpoint in Damascus City is to check if people passing by are
wanted or have to be conscripted for military service. ID cards are checked at all checkpoints.
Some checkpoints have laptops, so they can check names against the wanted lists electronically. At
other checkpoints, they have physical lists. Not all checkpoints have the same wanted lists.
16. The wanted lists distributed to checkpoints are compiled based on information retrieved from
either surveillance, investigations or from instances where the government regains control of a
previously opposition-held area and discover lists of persons involved with the opposition. There
are also instances of people raising false accusations against commercial competitors, which
sometimes leads to their names being added to the wanted lists.
17. There is no discrimination at checkpoints in Damascus. There might have been rare cases of
discrimination with regard to place of origin and religious background at the beginning of the
conflict in 2011 and 2012, but not now. However, people who are coming out of opposition held
areas are checked thoroughly.
18. There have not been cases of family members of a wanted person being subjected to questioning
or harassment or being detained when approaching checkpoints in Damascus. This is because the
security services will usually not wait for family members to pass through a checkpoint to catch
them in order to put pressure on the actual wanted people. Instead, if they want the person badly,
they will arrest his relatives immediately.
Returnees
Returnees via Damascus International Airport
19. The airport is open, and people are travelling through the airport. However, because of
international sanctions there are no European flights to the airport. Only planes coming from
Arabic countries like Lebanon, Kuwait and maybe Tunisia are currently landing in Damascus
International Airport.
20. If wanted people try to re-enter Syria through Damascus airport, they will be caught directly in the
airport by the Syrian authorities. However, low profile Sunni people who have lived abroad for a
while will not have a problem returning to Syria through the airport.
21. If people are not on any wanted lists, the Syrian authorities will in general not ask about what
people did outside the country. However, people who have worked in certain countries might be
asked to come to an interview with a branch of the security service to clarify why they worked
there. Everybody who has worked in Iraq will be checked.
22. Syrian men, who have not completed their military service and who have not resolved their status
before they arrive in Syria, will have to go directly to military service.
Consequences of illegal exit
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23. Illegal exit will be revealed at the border when they check the passenger’s name digitally against a
database available at the border. If there is no access to the database, for instance due to lack of
electricity, illegal exit can still be found out by checking the passengers’ travel documents for exit
stamp.
24. Basically, people who left the country illegally will not return through an official border as they will
be punished for their illegal exit, and they will certainly be brought in by the security service for
investigation.
25. A pardon for persons who have left Syria through an unofficial border was issued in 2017. The
pardon states that such persons should visit the Syrian embassy in the country in which they are
staying in order to legalise their status. The authorities will investigate why that person has left the
country illegally. They will check if there are any problems, connections or affiliations with
extremist Islamic groups. Currently, those with extremist religious views are of particular interest
for the government as throughout the war, religion has been widely utilized for a political uprising
against the government. People who have been cleared through an embassy, will not be
investigated or face any other reprisals for their illegal exit upon return to Syria. All low profile
refugees would be able to do this.
26. The punishment for having exited illegally depends on whether the illegal exit is viewed strictly as
a legal issue or also as a security issue.
27. According to Art.263-270 of the Syrian Penal Code, the punishment for Illegal exit when viewed as
a security issue may vary and can entail up to 25 years of imprisonment. If the authorities have
evidence that a person has a connection with certain groups outside the country, they will charge
a person for cooperating with an enemy of the state.
28. According to Presidential Decree 8/2016 of 17.02.2016 added to other Pardons of 02.05.2012 and
18.11.2013 and 25.07.2015, all low-profile refugees, i.e. persons whose names are not on the
wanted list and who have only left the country shortly due to fighting and bombardments, will be
eligible for a pardon.
29. Those who return and are not pardoned within 24 hours will be kept for three months for having
left illegally.
30. There have been instances where the Syrian authorities have looked the other way with regards to
the illegal exit of refugees from Syria. This has been the case for refugees who have fled the
country due to and in direct connection with specific fighting incidents, but who then return
shortly thereafter, for instance within a day or a shorter period of time.
31. For instance, in June 2012 there were some refugees, who had exited Syria illegally via the border
crossing of Tel Kalakh (/&-& ) by Eastern Homs on the Lebanese border. When they returned to
Syria, they were immediately accepted and they faced no problems with the authorities due to
their illegal exit.
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32. However, the source stresses that this is only the case for refugees who return as soon as an
attack or bombardment has ended. If one waits too long to return to Syria, for instance three
months or so, the situation is different.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (23 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
33. There have certainly been changes in the security situation in Damascus City after the government
took over Eastern Ghouta.
34. On 21 May 2018 Yarmouk was retaken by the government, and Damascus City and its
surroundings have become completely secure.
A diplomatic source in Beirut
Beirut, 19 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
35. With regards to the development of the military security situation and the prevalence of security
incidents or combat operations in Damascus city within the last year, there has been an increase in
the number of mortars hitting Damascus city in comparison with the situation last year which is
mainly due to the intensification of the government’s offensive on Ghouta.
36. The shelling of Damascus city is retaliatory in nature, in the sense that opposition groups primarily
fire mortars as a response to the regime’s offensive.
37. Since mid-February 2018, the number of mortars being fired towards Damascus has been
consistently high with some days up to 100 mortars impacting. On average, around twenty to
thirty mortars are fired towards Damascus with some areas experiencing a higher number of
shelling than others. There are no safe areas in Damascus as mortars fired from Eastern Ghouta
(Ghoutet
Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
) have the capacity to reach the entire city.
38. The mortars have struck military installations or government facilities, for instance the Officers'
Club close to Ummayyad square and the Parc of the Parliament, but are mostly impacting in areas
with a high concentration of civilians such as in traffic junctions, schools and hospitals. Even the
smaller mortars that are used have the capacity to cause massive civilian casualties. Armed
opposition groups apply tactics similar to the tactics applied by the regime: They bomb the civilians
intensively to put pressure on the other party.
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39. Some areas have been particularly vulnerable to mortar attacks, such as Dahiyat al-Assad (
0
)
د 1ا
), Qassaa (ع
ا),
Bab Touma (
و ب
), the area surrounding Ummayyad Square (ن
و !ا
as well as the central parts of Damascus where the ministries are located. Since February, there
have also been mortars hitting in Mezzeh (ةز
ا)
and Malki (
- ا)
. However, the vast majority of
mortars hit in areas with close proximity to Eastern Ghouta.
40. There are also areas that have not been affected by shelling, such as the most southern parts of
Damascus
229
.
41. Besides shelling and mortar attacks, there have also been some high-profile suicide attacks in
Damascus. For instance, last year there were suicide attacks targeting the Palace of Justice (Qasr
al-Adl,
لد ار
), close to Souk Hamediyyah and the attack on a bus of Shia pilgrims at Bab al
Saghir. Most suicide attacks are however intercepted by checkpoints (e.g. on airport road). As far
as the source remembers, there were 2-3 successful suicide attacks carried out in Damascus City
during the previous year. To the source’s knowledge, there have not been any suicide attacks in
2018. However, the source underlines that he may be wrong and the delegation has to check
information on this available in open sources.
42. The source has heard of assassinations of government security employees in Euphrates Valley (
يداو
تار' ا)
but not in Damascus city.
Security situation in Yarmouk
43. Qadam (مد
ا)
and Hajar al-Aswad (دو
!ا ر ا),
located south/southwest of Yarmouk has been
under the control of Islamic State for several years. There are however ongoing clashes between
Islamic State and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in the camp as both groups are pushing to gain full control
of the area.
44. Previously, there were very few government offensives against Islamic State in the southern
suburbs of Damascus. However, the government has reportedly recently initiated assaults on
Islamic State positions in Yarmouk, Qadam and Hajar Al-Aswad.
45. There are not many civilians left in Yarmouk camp. Some estimates put the number of civilians in
Yarmouk at anywhere between 4,000 and 8,000 individuals which is probably overestimated.
Operators dominating the delivery of Humanitarian assistance after the forced departure of
UNRWA have an interest in making sure that the estimates of civilians living in Yarmouk remain
high as it provides them with more goods they can subsequently sell on the black market.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus Province
46. The general security risk towards Damascus Province will diminish when Eastern Ghouta falls
under the control of the government. However, it is the source’s assessment that fewer frontlines
in the future could result in a rise in suicide attacks.
When approving the meeting minutes, the source added that this changed during recent Yarmouk campaign, but
the campaign has now come to an end again. (ed.)
229
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47. In terms of strategy, it is difficult to predict which area the government will focus on after Eastern
Ghouta due to the fact that the situation is extremely fluid and dynamic. However, it is likely that
the government will focus on either Yarmouk or the Rastan and Talbiseh-area (Mintaqat
ar-Rastan
wat-Talbiseh,
& او ن ر ا ط
), depending on how the situation in the Kurdish areas develops.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
48. Internally displaced persons (IDP) in Damascus are spread out over the city and the type of housing
they are staying in depends on their financial means.
49. The highest concentration of IDPs will be found in neighborhoods with more affordable housing in
Damascus city and suburbs. Jaramana (
ر
), southeast of Damascus city located right at the exit
road between then ring road and Damascus International Airport, has since the outset of the war
been a hub for IDPs and has according to the current estimates attracted a total number of two
million IDPs.
50. More affluent areas, such as Mezzeh and Malki, attract IDPs who are able to match the high prices
of housing.
51. Finally, there are also IDPs within Damascus city who are living in parks and on benches.
Freedom of movement in Damascus Province
52. There used to be 13 checkpoints between Damascus and the border with Lebanon but there are
only two checkpoints left.
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
53. There are fewer checkpoints in Damascus city in comparison with prior years for a variety of
reasons. Firstly, most checkpoints are placed in areas adjoining an active frontline or conflict zone.
Secondly, the government does not have the resources to keep all the checkpoints as it needs
resources for ongoing offensives and the push to retake more territory within the entire country.
Thirdly, there have been several complaints by civilians, who find that the massive number of
checkpoints severely restricted their freedom of movement. In general, the government tries to
find a balance between securing the capital by well-functioning and regulated checkpoints and on
the other hand not damaging the image of Damascus as a safe and stable city.
54. The source has not seen checkpoints with electronic measures apart from one on the road
between the Lebanese border and Damascus. Most checkpoints are functioning fine with paper
lists of wanted persons.
55. Checkpoints were previously run by different government entities but are now mainly controlled
by the Republican Guard (يرو)
ا سر ا).
56. ID checks are being conducted at every neighborhood, but in some cases it is possible to pass a
checkpoint faster if the guards manning the checkpoints either know or recognize you.
57. Corruption continues to be widespread. Even before the war, when you for instance took your car
with you across the border and you needed a stamp, it was common to pay a small sum to be able
to get that stamp. For people of means who want to pass a checkpoint quickly and hassle-free, it is
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not uncommon to bribe officials as a ‘friendly gesture’ by giving them a package of cigarettes or
the like.
58. Generally, Syrians who do not have any outstanding issues with the government normally have
nothing to fear when passing checkpoints. However, Syrians of military service age and who has
not yet served or Syrians who are on a wanted list are at risk of being arrested when passing
checkpoints. Men of military service age or people, who are afraid that they are on a list, often
limit their movements within the city and refrain from approaching checkpoints. With regards to
freedom of movement, one thing is how your status is according to the law and another thing is
one’s self-perception.
59. There have been instances of false accusations being put forward by someone that for instance
has a personal grudge with another person and views it as a possibility to get rid of that person by
accusing him of doing something criminal and thereby causing that his name is added to a wanted
list.
60. There have been cases of individuals being labeled ‘guilty by association’ because of being
contacted by a person wanted by the government – even a wrong number call can be enough.
Such persons may face difficulties when approaching a checkpoint because their name may be put
on a wanted list without their knowledge. This was a practice even before the conflict.
Freedom of movement in Yarmouk
61. There are only few NGO’s and armed entities that are allowed access to Yarmouk, but generally
access to these areas is extremely restricted, even for humanitarian agencies such as UNRWA that
lost access to the camp around two years ago.
Returnees
62. With regards to the prevalence of refugees returning to Syria from abroad, the source only has
anecdotal evidence on this matter and highlights that the fact that the term returnee is not
defined or applied consistently in official figures makes it difficult to rely on official figures.
63. Since there are 17 different branches of the security services in Syria with each branch drawing up
their own lists of wanted individuals, most Syrians abroad have a difficult time determining
whether they are wanted by the regime, which leads to a reluctance to return. However, while it is
rarely possible to have one’s name checked against all lists, it is fairly common for Syrians to check
whether their names are registered in some of the lists with the assistance of friends or relatives.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (5 June 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
64. The security situation in Damascus City has changed since since the government has retaken
control of Eastern Ghouta: there has been a reduction in incoming fire and there are no longer
frontlines close to the city.
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65. The regime has taken control over Yarmouk. The situation is still not fully clear. However, the area
has been subjected to massive physical destruction.
A diplomatic source in Damascus
Damascus, 21 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
66. The security situation in Damascus City was at its most insecure point in 2012 and 2013. Since then
the situation has improved. This year (i.e. 2017 and 2018) the source’s staff’s movements are
restricted to the central parts of the city. In terms of security, the biggest problem within these
central parts of the city is the mortars fired from rebel groups in the suburbs. In the beginning of
2017, the situation was good; however, the situation is now becoming very insecure again. It is a
matter of being cautious to not be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
67. The areas that are mostly affected by mortars and shelling are: Old Damascus (Dimasq
al-Qadima,
,(
د ا ق د
Bab Touma (
,(
ا
مو ب
Jaramana (
,(
ر
Rukn al-Din (ن
د ا ن-ر)
and Dahiyat al-Assad
(
.(
د !ا
0
On 20 March 2018, the sports complex in Mezzeh (ةز
ا)
was shelled.
68. The mortars used by the opposition groups do not have the capability of targeting specific targets.
They are mostly fired towards Damascus in the mornings and afternoons when children are going
to or from school. Mortars are mainly hitting Christian areas of Damascus, e.g. Bab Sharqi (
ب
ر
) and Bab Touma.
69. There have been few suicide attacks, e.g. the attacks on a police station and the Palace of Justice
(Qasr
al-Adl,لد
ار
) in 2017.
Security situation in Yarmouk
70. With the ongoing offensive in Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet
Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
,(
ر ا ق د طو
Yarmouk is not currently a focus area. However, lately there have been movements in Yarmouk,
and Islamic State is advancing on other rebel positions. There were clashes between regime forces
and Islamic State in Qadam (مد
ا)
throughout the week before the interview with the source. A few
months before the interview with the source, there were clashes between the Free Syrian Army
(FSA,
al-Jaysh as-Suri al-Hurr,
ر ا يرو ا ش ا)
and Islamic State, which resulted in Islamic State
gaining more territory. It has been publicly announced by the Syrian regime that when the
campaign in Eastern Ghouta is over, the Yarmouk-area will be next.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (14 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
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71. As far as new development concerns, the security situation in Damascus has improved since the
government has retaken control of Eastern Ghouta. There are no more mortars from that part of
the city. At the same time several "reconciliations" were agreed upon and buses are transporting
the armed rebels to Idlib. On 9 May 2018, a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED)
exploded in al-Mazraa, in front of the café at Maysat Square, not far from the Russian Embassy.
The result was that two people were killed and 14 injured.
72. During the operation in the southern part of Damascus (Yarmouk, Hajar al-Aswad, Babbila), there
were some mortars again, coming from that part of the city. Nowadays, when the Syrian army has
regained control of the southern part of Damascus, the security situation is much better and calm.
A humanitarian organisation
Damascus, 21 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
73. In social media, there are a lot of reports about mortar fire from areas under opposition control
hitting on Damascus City. No reports are noted from the Yarmouk area. In general, the area has
been quiet in that regard.
74. Social media has previously reported that some suicide attacks aiming for targets in Damascus City
originated from the Yarmouk-area. However, this information cannot be verified by the source.
Security situation in Yarmouk
75. Before the conflict in Syria, 160,000 Palestinians lived in the Yarmouk Camp (Mukhayyim
al-
Yarmouk,
كو ر ا م $
) and surroundings. From 2012 and onward, people started leaving the camp
due to the clashes in the camp. Currently, 12,000 Palestinian refugees remain in the camp and its
surrounding areas.
230
76. Yarmouk area incorporates (كو
ر ا)
Hajr al-Aswad (دو
!ا ر ا),
Yarmouk Camp (كو
ر ا م $
) and
other surrounding areas. The Yarmouk area is largely controlled by Islamic State. The surrounding
areas: Yalda (اد& ), Babbila (2 ) and Beit Sahm (م
ت
) are controlled by other armed opposition
groups.
77. In the first quarter of 2018, there were few reported clashes in the greater Yarmouk area,
including Hajr al-Aswad, Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahm. Currently, there is an on-going negotiation
between the government and the opposition groups controlling the area, but no agreement has so
far been reached.
231
The armed groups that are controlling the Yarmouk-area tried to enforce their
When approving the meeting minutes (30 May 2018), the source noted that an estimated 100 civilians were now
remaining in Yarmouk and up to 12,000 in Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahem (ed.)
When approving the meeting minutes (30 May 2018), the source noted that an agreement had now been reached
with all parties. (ed.)
231
230
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curriculum upon schools in the area. However, students are often able to leave the Yarmouk camp
to study and to take their exams in Yalda, and then return to Yarmouk afterwards. The students
usually go back, since they live with their families in the camp.
78. It is difficult to verify or obtain information about civilian casualties caused by clashes in the
Yarmouk Camp.
79. Based on information from social media, there have been reports of execution of people by Islamic
State. Additionally, a number of civilians have been killed or injured due to clashes although the
extent of casualties is unclear.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus Province
80. The general security situation in the Damascus area, i.e. Damascus City and suburbs, is volatile and
is changing rapidly. According to the trend seen, the opposition-controlled areas in the whole
Damascus area will be retaken and come under Government control in coming months.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
81. Eighty pct. of the Palestinian population in Syria are living in Damascus and suburbs (riff
Damascus). Palestinian families tend to settle together in the same areas.
82. In response to earlier displacement (i.e. not necessarily recent displacements from Eastern
Ghouta), a number of IDP shelters have been opened by the government and a UN Agency. Basic
emergency humanitarian assistance is being provided by different humanitarian actors. As the
continuation of shelters is not a sustainable solution, IDPs tend to move out of shelters as soon as
they get the opportunity, or if they have the ability to acquire affordable accommodation in other
areas.
83. In January 2017, estimated 2,300 IDPs, primarily Palestinians, were residing in UNRWA run
collective shelters. The number has now reduced to 1,500.
232
84. In general, IDPs in Damascus prefer to return to areas where they originate from if possible and
providing that there are no restrictions of movements. Likewise, civilians originating from the
Yarmouk Camp would prefer to return. The primary reason for this is that rent and life in general is
very expensive in Damascus City in addition to the symbolic nature of the camp for the Palestinian
community.
85. Regarding civilians leaving Eastern Ghouta, there were a number of government run collective
shelters opened in response to persons displaced from Eastern Ghouta. Civilians are subjected to
security screening by the Syrian authorities. IDPs are generally prevented from entering Damascus
City until they have undergone the security screening. In general, men between the age of fifteen
and sixty years coming to Damascus City from opposition-held areas undergo a higher degree of
scrutiny as there is generally a high level of suspicion around civilians from Eastern Ghouta.
When approving the meeting minutes, the source advised that all UNRWA collective shelters were closed in May
2018.
232
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Typically, men will either stay in Government run collective shelters until they are cleared or they
will be enrolled in pro-government forces. It is easier for women and children to leave Eastern
Ghouta on the condition that they are able to provide a sponsor.
Freedom of movement in Damascus province
Freedom of movement in Yarmouk
86. The Yarmouk Camp, is accessed via two checkpoints; one governmental and one with armed
opposition groups in Yalda. The possibility to move in and out during the conflict has been
fluctuating. In the first quarter of 2018, some people were able to move in and out, e.g. medical
cases. The last time the source was able to enter the camp and deliver humanitarian assistance
was in 2015 and to Yalda from May 2016.
87. Palestinian refugees facing difficulties accessing humanitarian assistance can generally delegate to
someone to collect their assistance on their behalf. As for all Palestinian refugees in Syria,
refugees living in Yarmouk camp can also use the delegation system. In recent years, when
checkpoints were closed, a small amount of goods has generally been able to enter the area. There
are very few services remaining in Yarmouk including medical, electricity and water.
Returnees
88. There is limited information about Palestinian returnees from abroad. However, numbers are
estimated to be low. The number of people leaving Syria is still higher than the number of people
coming back. The current trend is that people are staying in the countries where they sought
refuge. A great number of people that have left Syria had an individual reason to leave, including
avoiding conscription.
89. Palestinian returnees registered with GAPAR are treated in a similar way by Syrian authorities as
other Syrians returning.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (30 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
90. Since the meeting, security situation has changed dramatically. The whole Yarmouk area and
surroundings (i.e. Yalda (اد& ), Babbila (2 ) and Beit Sahm (م
ت
)) are now controlled by the
government.
91. On 21 May it was officially announced by the Government that all remaining opposition groups
had left Damascus area.
233
Access to the humanitarian community is approved through an
interagency convoy, however a date is yet to be announced.
233
BBC reported on 21 May 2018: ‘
The Syrian military has declared that it has taken full control of all areas around
the capital, Damascus, for the first time in six years.
”
Damascus and its surroundings… are completely secure,"
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A humanitarian security organisation
Beirut, 13 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
92. Regarding the general security situation in Damascus Province it should be noted that the area is
split between two areas: government-held areas and opposition/Islamic State-controlled areas.
93. In government-held areas, the predominant threat has been indirect fire, including artillery
mortars etc. that are being fired from Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet
Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ق د طو
ر ا
). Faylaq al-Rahman (ن
ر ا ق& 3
) is the predominant group firing towards Damascus although
other groups such as Jaysh al-Islam (م2
4ا ش
), Fajr al-Umma (
!ا ر 3)
and Ahrar al-Sham (
رار أ
م ا)
are also thought to contribute.
94. While approximately 90 pct. of the current threats with regards to the security situation in
Damascus originate from indirect fire, such as mortars, another prominent threat is improvised
explosive devices, car bombs, suicide vehicles and body-borne suicide bombs, the planning of
which is assessed to originate from the opposition/Islamic State-held areas in southern Damascus.
During the last two years, there have been 26 of such attacks in Damascus and its immediate
environs.
95. Jobar (ر
و
), while connected to Eastern Ghouta, is administratively within the city limits of
Damascus Province and at the eastern part of the city. Jobar is an isolated and contained
opposition controlled area, and is mainly controlled by Faylaq al-Rahman. There are no tunnels or
crossing points to other areas above ground since the Qaboun (نو
ا)
and Barza (ةز
ر
) pockets
were taken over by the Syrian Army in May 2016. People in Jobar are mostly fighters and the
number of civilians in the area is low.
96. The area has suffered heavy bombardments from barrel bombs (including naval sea mines) and
airstrikes dropped from airplanes. In addition, the area has been subjected to intense shelling from
the use of artillery, mortars, rockets and howitzers. During the past three years, there has been an
average of eighty impacts a week on Jobar.
Security situation in Damascus City
97. Conflict activity often impacts daily life and travel around the city. At certain times of the day there
are not many people on the streets, especially during the afternoon, and this trend is prominent
across the city.
98. The indirect fire fluctuates during the year and often spikes and correlates with the government of
Syria’s military operations in Ghouta or with high profile visits by Russian delegates in Damascus.
spokesman Gen Ali Mayhoub said on state television. The announcement came after troops cleared Islamic State (IS)
militants from the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp and the Hajar al-Aswad district.”
BBC 21 May 2018
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-44198304
(ed.)
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99. At the moment such activities are quite high given the focus on Eastern Ghouta. Last year there
was an average of sixty to seventy indirect fire events per month with an average of two to three
projectiles per event. However, during the last two months the shelling has escalated. At the
moment, Damascus City is a high-risk environment which impacts the daily life of Damascenes of
which many are avoiding the streets as much as possible, especially during the afternoon.
100. In February 2018, there were 235 incidents involving multiple projectiles, which in comparison is
five times higher than the number of incidents reported in December 2017. During the two first
weeks of March 2018, 82 incidents have so far been reported which is the same figure as the
whole of December 2017. The numbers are still high and the highest number of incidents prior to
the current situation was in August 2015 where 140 incidents were reported.
101. Mortars fired from Eastern Ghouta have the range (5 – 9 km) to reach the entire city of Damascus,
which means that there is no such thing as a safe area of Damascus. The reason why the mortars
have mainly been hitting the old town of Damascus is not because the mortars do not have the
range to hit other areas but solely because the opposition groups in Eastern Ghouta are choosing
to aim for these areas and have not decided to fire at longer ranges.
102. Generally, indirect fire, including mortars, have a range of five to nine kilometres (depending on
firing conditions, weather conditions etc), but the impact of the mortars is not very accurate for a
variety of reasons. Firstly, these kinds of weapons are not precision weapons. At best, they hit with
a precision of 100 to 200 meters. Secondly, armed opposition groups in Ghouta do not target
precisely due to the fact that their firing positions are often from vehicles that do not have a stable
platform. Even a small centimetre change will result in a huge range in where the mortars will
impact. Furthermore, mortar attacks on Damascus are often retaliations for the government’s
attacks on Eastern Ghouta and the armed opposition groups therefore very quickly set up their
mortars and rockets and fire them equally fast. Finally, the armed opposition groups in Eastern
Ghouta rarely use spotters when firing mortars and rockets.
103. Due to the above-mentioned reasons, the indirect fire, including the mortars that are being fired
by opposition groups from Eastern Ghouta are generally impacting indiscriminately.
104. With regard to suicide bombings, two trends have emerged recently:
Firstly, Islamic State has increasingly succeeded in conducting suicide attacks within Damascus City
in 2017, where Islamic State previously mainly conducted suicide attacks in the outskirts of
Damascus City, in Rif Dimashq in 2016. Added to this, in 2017, Islamic State suicide attacks in
central Damascus largely used body-borne Improvised explosive Devices (IEDs), as opposed to
suicide vehicles (2016), which appeared to make Islamic State capable of reaching intended
targets, particularly in fortified military or government areas. Islamic State mainly targets
government facilities and to a lesser extent areas associated with the Shia faithful, such as Sayyida
Zainab (ب
ز ةد ا).
In those instances where they have detonated bombs at checkpoints likely
because the bomber was intercepted at the checkpoint and not necessarily because the
checkpoints were the main targets. A large number of suicide vehicles have been intercepted at
checkpoints in 2016, less so in 2017 suggesting a better capacity by Islamic State to bypass
security. There have been no confirmed suicide attacks since the beginning of 2018 so far. There
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has been one suspected unconfirmed suicide attack on 9 May 2018 in Maysaat (ت
ا)
area of
Damascus. Twelve suicide detonations (in ten events) were recorded in Damascus and its
immediate surroundings in 2017, while fourteen suicide detonations (in nine events) in 2016.
Secondly, since July/August 2017 there has also been an increased use of multiple bombers per
suicide attack.
105. There is no indication that the ‘Baghdad style’ bombings - of mass civilian casualty attacks in
markets or other areas mainly frequented by civilians - is happening in Damascus at this time,
since armed opposition groups in Syria conducting suicide bombings appear to only be intent on
mainly targeting government facilities. The collateral damage to civilians is rather a question of
being at the wrong place at the wrong time. However, major civilian casualties from suicide bombs
or attacks happen, for instance when a bomber en route to his target gets intercepted, chased and
cornered by security forces and then decides to detonate. This happened in December 2017 with a
suicide vehicle detonated in a residential area, in October 2017 where a bomber detonated while
running away from the police in a commercial street and in July 2017 when a bomber detonated in
a restaurant. All incidents resulted in civilian casualties.
106. In terms of capacity and whether attacks will continue, the capacity of armed opposition groups to
launch such (suicide) attacks does not seem to be affected by any notable arrest operations,
improvised explosive device (IED) making facilities being discovered or increased checkpoints
stopping such activity. The frequency is still the same with suicide attacks occurring every three to
four months and it is only the modes of operation that are changing, not the capacity itself to
conduct attacks. In the bigger picture, suicide attacks make up four pct. of the security incidents in
Damascus City.
107. Apart from shelling, suicide attacks and explosions, there have also been incidents of crime, such
as robbery, theft and car theft, pick pocketing and similar petty crime. There has been a slight
increase of crime in the Eastern Mezzeh (
ر ا ةز ا
) area of Damascus City, which the source
hears about periodically. However, the source underlines that Damascus is not different from any
other city with regards to prevalence of crime and it does not affect people’s daily lives in any
notable way.
108. The Syrian society is still very much a functioning police state with high level of surveillance,
including electronic surveillance. Government institutions are still functioning and the security
apparatus is still operating strongly in Damascus. The state and its institutions have been boosted
by the Russians and Iranians, and there is quite an open presence of Russian forces as well as
Iranian (and aligned forces such as Iraqi militias and Hezbollah) in the streets and hotels of the city.
Security situation in Yarmouk
109. The southern neighbourhoods consisting of Yarmouk Camp (كو
ر ا م $
), Hajar al-Aswad (
ر ا
دو !ا),
Beit Sahm (م
ت
), Babbila (2 ) and Yalda (اد& ) are traditionally Palestinian areas that
currently are controlled by various opposition groups. All these neighbourhoods are besieged by
the government and therefore very well contained.
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110. Yarmouk camp is besieged by both the government and Islamic State. Al-Hajar al-Aswad, which is
located south of Yarmouk, has been under the control of Islamic State for several years. Over the
last year, Islamic State has steadily advanced in Yarmouk camp and has thereby been able to
expand their presence from the south to the north which is a quite significant advancement within
the context of Yarmouk. At the moment, Islamic State almost controls all of Yarmouk camp, except
from the most northern part of the camp which is controlled by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS,
6 ھ
م ا ر ر
).
111. The security situation in Yarmouk is bleak and perilous. There have been several incidents
including small arm fire and mortars impacting the interior of the camp (from government and
opposition forces). During the last three months there has been an escalation of arrests, floggings,
public punishments and executions carried out by Islamic State which coincides with a change of
leadership and with Islamic State taking control of Haifa Street in Yarmouk camp and Rijh Square
(Sahet
ar-Rijeh,
ر ا
). In areas recently fallen under Islamic State control, any surviving
opposition fighters, even those from
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham,
were beheaded instantly if captured.
112. Despite the fall of Mosul (ل
و ا)
and Raqqa (
ر ا),
Islamic State is still experimenting with their
government form in areas under their control. Civilians who live in Yarmouk camp live in an
extremely brutal environment where they are constantly fearful of detentions, crucifixions and
floggings. There have been several incidents of civilians being arrested for instance booksellers,
pigeon breeders, women who are dressed ‘immodestly’ or men who trim their facial hear.
113. However, despite these abuses by Islamic State, the group is relatively popular among many
civilians in southern Damascus because it is largely made up of local nationals, predominantly
Syrians and Palestinians, contrary to Islamic State groupings in other areas that are primarily made
up of foreign fighters. However, its senior leadership in the camp is thought to be made up of
several foreign North African nationalities.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus Province
114. When Eastern Ghouta is taken by the government, the indirect artillery fire targeting Damascus
Province will reduce significantly.
115. Despite Islamic State’s advancements in the southern suburbs of Damascus, and the fact that
Islamic State does have a chain of sympathisers outside the Yarmouk-area that can be mobilised
for attacks in government-held areas, there is no expectation that an increase in the number of
suicide attacks conducted in Damascus City will occur in the future at this point. This is also due to
the fact that while high profile attacks are viewed as a useful strategy by Islamic State, it is not
necessarily a priority for Islamic State.
116. Regarding the situation in Yarmouk camp in the future and the impact it will have on the situation
in Damascus City, the source assesses that Yarmouk will either be completely bombarded or it will
undergo the process of a so-called ‘political reconciliation’, i.e. an imposed agreement. The source
does not consider such reconciliation process viable for Islamic State held areas, given that the
group has nowhere to go and it is difficult for the government of Syria to discuss terms of
surrender with Islamic State.
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117. A complete bombardment of Yarmouk is more likely than the government initiating a campaign of
urban warfare. This is due to the government’s makeup, and how its forces normally fight. It is
highly uncommon for the government to conduct full urban warfare, and since opposition areas in
Yarmouk presently is not a threat, as the armed opposition groups there do not conduct mortar
attacks, the government is likely to have no interest in launching an offensive against the
opposition areas at this time. Furthermore, the government only has few capable forces that are
capable of taking ground, one of which is the Tiger Forces (Quwat
an-Nimr,
ر ا تاو
). The Tiger
Forces are very much a spearheaded force, they heavily use tanks that are only used for offensives
and their operative goal is only to take ground and not to besiege. The Fourth Division of the army
is more a besiegement force. There are other special operations forces that are also offensive,
such as Hezbollah, Iraqi militias or the Iranian-led Fatemioyun Brigade (Liwa
al-Fatemiyoun,
ءاو
نو ط ' ا).
However, these forces are mainly active in flat agricultural land where they can break
through a line, and large parts of Yarmouk does not fit into that strategy.
118. However, before the government eventually shifts its focus towards Yarmouk, it is expected that
Islamic State will continue to advance in the pocket as there has been a significant change in
Islamic State’s capacity to expand.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
119. During the past two years, there have been no significant movement of internally displaced
persons (IDP) from other areas in Syria to Damascus. Most people stay in their local areas. There is
movement from Yarmouk, but it is mainly internally within opposition-held areas, for instance
from Yarmouk camp to Yalda, Beit Sahm or Babbila.
Freedom of movement in Damascus Province
120. Checkpoints at the entrance to the cities of Damascus and Homs as well as between Damascus and
Lebanon have computerized systems, where ID cards are being controlled electronically.
121. Whether certain groups face difficulties when moving around in Damascus Province due to their
ethnic or religious background, the source considers that there is less focus on ethnicity or
religious background and more focus on where people are coming from and where they are
heading. For instance, people travelling from an area controlled by opposition groups will undergo
more scrutiny at checkpoints. People can usually not lie to officers manning checkpoints about
their place of origin as their accent discloses their place of origin.
122. People of means will often have to pay some kind of small bribe when they pass checkpoints, but
the source has not heard of this group experiencing particular difficulties. The source has not
heard of unaccompanied women experiencing sexist comments or assaults at checkpoints.
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
123. There are checkpoints in every neighbourhood of Damascus City. When traveling by car it is only
possible to drive a maximum of ten to fifteen minutes before being stopped at a checkpoint.
Checking of ID cards happens randomly inside the city and not at every checkpoint. Whether ID
cards will be checked at checkpoints depend on whether they suspect someone as well as on the
neighbourhood. For instance, checkpoints surrounding more affluent neighbourhoods or
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neighbourhoods surrounding the presidential palace will often conduct a more rigorous ID card
check. The level of scrutiny at checkpoints also depends on which government entity that controls
the checkpoint. The fourth division of the Syrian Arab Army checks ID cards very rigorously, while
the less professional National Defence Forces (Quwat ad-Difa’ al-Watani,
طو ا ع 3د ا تاو
) do not
check ID cards thoroughly.
124. There is a risk of being detained at checkpoints. We have knowledge of people being detained for
days because they have made a phone call to a friend that was based in Ghouta or because the
government use the detention as a pressure point on family members that are wanted.
125. The largest number of conscription arrests at checkpoints happens on the main routes when
travelling between cities. Within Damascus City itself, there are relatively few conscription arrests.
However, if a person has not fulfilled his military service duty and is stopped at a checkpoint, he
will be taken for conscription.
126. Certain areas of Damascus City are off limits for certain ethnicities, such as the area surrounding
the Sayyida Zainab shrine (Maqam al-Sayyida Zainab,
ب ز ةد ا م
) or the Bab al-Salam (م2
ا ب
)
area, where Sunnis and sometimes Christians are either not allowed to go or are asked specifically
what their purpose in the area is. Bab Saghir (ر
9 ا ب
) and Sayyida Aisha (
6 : ةد ا
), both
traditionally religiously mixed areas, have during the last one to five years gradually changed to
predominantly Shia areas – although at present not ‘off limit’ areas.
Freedom of movement in Yarmouk
127. The only entrances to the besieged areas in the southern part of Damascus Province are into
northern Beit Sahm and in al-Asali (
ا)
from government held areas, while internally, Yarmouk
is accessed from the opposition areas via the Ouruba checkpoint (
ور ا ط
) with Yalda.
128. Access to the Yarmouk camp is very tightly controlled and is often closed for months. Islamic State
pose travel restrictions for all males between 18-45 as they are considered to be of fighting age.
Travel for other civilians, e.g. students, medical cases and government employees, is severely
restricted, and Islamic State confiscate all documents, including ID-cards for civilians who leave the
camp, thereby forcing them to return, since documents are needed for travel and everyday
movement in government-held Syria. Furthermore, people from an Islamic State controlled area
who approach the authorities in order to get new papers are perceived as Islamic State-
sympathizers and face a real risk of being detained.
129. There is no movement from Yarmouk to the government-held areas of Damascus. In Yalda, Babilla
and Beit Sahm, some university students are able to go back and forth between the opposition-
held areas (which are not under the control of Islamic State) and government-held areas of
Damascus.
Returnees
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130. There have not been huge numbers of refugees returning to Syria. Furthermore, figures regarding
returns from abroad are hard to come by, and official figures cannot always be relied upon. There
is also a tendency that refugees registered with the UN are crossing the border into Damascus
from Lebanon several times but the fact that the same person is crossing the border more than
once will not be recorded in official statistics, which is why the movement of one person will often
figure more than once in the statistics.
Returnees via land borders
131. Before the Arsal (ل
ر:)
offensive was launched in Lebanon in August 2017, there were around
50,000 Syrian refugees in the area. The offensive caused several movements due to agreements
and IDP movements: one movement was arranged to Idlib (ب
دإ),
one arranged movement to the
Qalamun Mountains (نو
& ا ل
), a third arranged movement to the Islamic State corridors and a
fourth small number came by themselves (i.e. not arranged) across the mountains to Lebanon
using their own means. Adding all these movements up, barely ten pct. (5,000 – 7,000) of the
people came back to Syria. It is telling that the majority of the people affected by the offensive
were willing to stay in poor quality tents and with a lack of livelihoods and unclear futures, instead
of returning to Syria.
Returnees via Damascus International Airport
132. Treatment of returnees at Damascus International Airport is a subject that is difficult to get
corroborated information about. The source has not heard of anyone going missing at the airport,
but at the same time, the source does not monitor the airport or arrivals. The source’s assessment
of the airport is that it is heavily controlled by the Air Force Intelligence (al-Mukhabarat al-Jawiyya,
و ا تار $ ا
) and heavily militarized. There are heavy electronic measures put in place, such as
computers and electronic lists etc. If a person arrives at the airport and his/her name is flagged, he
or she will be revealed upon arrival. A lot of Syrians will prior to their return, check whether they
are flagged with for instance relatives or personal contacts that are in the security services.
Consequences of illegal exit
133. Generally, the perception is that persons who have left Syria illegally are traitors and the source
assumes that they will face questions upon return about why they have decided to leave instead
of staying and protecting their home land. The source further assumes that having left illegally will
raise suspicions about the person. The government has a long memory, and even for people who
have attended demonstrations and subsequently have been away for instance for ten years, the
government will not have forgotten about that person. For example, the source knows of a local
national who had spent four years in Turkey before returning to Syria via Lebanon for personal
reasons in 2017 (and aware of the issues/conscription arrests he may face). While travelling to visit
family in Tartus (سوطرط), he was stopped at a routine checkpoint and asked for his ID. Further
questions were asked about valid forms of ID (unclear why) and he presented his passport that
had a stamp from the Free Syrian Army (non-official stamp) when it was in control of the border
with Turkey. This resulted in heavy questioning from the authorities before he was let through.
However, the individual now suspects his name is on ‘a list’. In short having an unofficial stamp or
illegal exit on a passport appears to likely lead to increased harassment at checkpoints. Another
long memory example given by the source was about an individual that the source knew who was
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detained in 2017 at a checkpoint in Homs City as his name was on a list. He was detained for 26
days and periodically beaten in session in detention. He was released when his family paid to
release him. He and his family were told the reasons for his detention. He was told that he was
under investigation for making one phone call to an opposition area in Eastern Ghouta in 2014
that was under Jabhat al Nusra (ةر
ا )
) control and the person he spoke with was a ‘terrorist’
(he was telephoning his friend who was a local activist/journalist as the individual worked in the
same field). He was played recordings of his phone call which demonstrated the surveillance of the
state.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (10 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
134. As predicted, the indirect fire threat has reduced significantly – down to thirty events per month.
However, periodic indirect fire still affects southern areas of the city – particularly al-Midan (Hayy
al-Maydan,
ناد ا
), Tadamon (ن
0 ا
) and Zahira (
د ا ةرھاز ا)
areas. Occasionally, fire still
impacts central areas of the city on a random nature, which again is largely reflective of the
government’s action on Islamic State areas. By accounts, streets are busier and people are less
concerned by indirect fire now. This is the main change.
135. Moreover, as predicted, the government launched heavy bombardments on the Yarmouk area for
nearly one month now. This has been coupled with ground advances in this area and Hajar al-
Aswad that has effectively split the two areas now. The government advances in open urban areas
rather than fights through dense urban areas again as predicted. Islamic State refused to
‘reconcile’ with the government and just prior to the action, large numbers of civilian IDPs
travelled eastwards into Yalda (several hundred). Just last week (1 – 4 May 2018) at least sixty
civilians who had been trapped by the fighting between the government, opposition groups and
Islamic State managed to escape to Yalda. The opposition in southern Damascus neighbourhoods
of Yalda, Babilla and Beit Sahm have seen at least five rounds of relocations to northern Syria, and
the reconciliation process is firmly underway. The main threat in the Yarmouk area is now
unexploded ordnances (UXO) and explosive remnants of war (ERW). The Islamic State areas in
Yarmouk and Hajar al-Aswad are still getting heavily bombarded and it is expected this will
continue until Islamic State surrender or all are killed inside. It is assessed that the number of
civilians in Yarmouk is currently very low. Again, if this area comes under the government control,
unexploded ordnances (UXO)/explosive remnants (ERW) are expected to be the main threat.
Amnesty International
Beirut, 12 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
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Security situation in Damascus City
136. Damascus City is under strict control of the government, and the biggest and most notorious
security service agencies, as well as Hizbollah forces and Iranian military personnel, are heavily
present in the city.
137. Damascus has been subjected to indiscriminate mortar shelling from Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet
Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
), which has been intensified recently. Mortars have not
struck all areas, and most shelling has been concentrated around Old Damascus (Dimasq al-
Qadima,
د ا ق د),
Bab Touma (
و ب
) and other areas surrounding Eastern Ghouta. Mortars
are indiscriminate weapons and it is impossible to determine where they will fall. Before the
recent intensive shelling started, mortar attacks did not happen on a daily basis or systematically.
138. Regarding prevalence of government buildings and military installations being struck by mortars
inside Damascus, the main source of information on where mortars hit is the government’s news
agency SANA, and according to SANAs reports, it is civilian areas that are being struck by mortars.
Security situation in Yarmouk
139. There have been reports about human rights violations (including abductions, extra judiciary
killings and shelling) committed against civilians by opposition groups in Yarmouk (كو
ر ا).
However, Amnesty International has not been able to verify attacks on civilian areas in Yarmouk by
armed groups in 2016 and 2017. Last year and the year before, there were clashes between
Islamic State and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS,
م ا ر ر 6 ھ
) in Yarmouk. During these clashes,
civilians were affected in terms of lack of access to humanitarian aid.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus province
140. The source anticipates that mortar attacks will stop, once Eastern Ghouta is recaptured by the
government.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
141. There are no camps for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Damascus City, but a large number of
IDPs from reconciled areas live in IDP camps in Damascus suburbs where they have been forced to
take residence by government forces.
Freedom of movement in Damascus province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
142. Based on our findings published in our reports, there are many checkpoints in Damascus City. If a
person’s name is on one of the lists of wanted persons, he or she would risk being detained when
approaching a checkpoint. Any person who is an activist, human rights lawyer, a humanitarian
worker or has made an anti-government post on Facebook is at risk of being detained.
143. As people are never notified when their names are put on a list of wanted persons, they can never
know what will happen when they approach a checkpoint. If someone has a personal grudge
against another person, he can easily go to the police and falsely accuse that person of a criminal
activity.
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144. In Damascus, false accusations put forward by other individuals entail a real risk of detention. This
is because such accusations are investigated by the security services that do not adhere to rules or
due processes.
145. Lists of wanted persons are sent to checkpoints, airports and border crossings and they are
physical lists that are not always up to date. The different branches of the security apparatus do
not share their lists or communicate with regards to individuals that are wanted. There are
examples of individuals released by one branch and then taken by another branch immediately
after their release. There are also examples of individuals who have been mistaken with
individuals on a wanted list and therefore detained due to the fact that their names are identical
to other people’s names.
146. Concerning possible impact of one’s religious and ethnic background or place of origin on
treatment at checkpoints, there was no sectarian based treatment of people at checkpoints in the
first years of the conflict. Since 2014, persons with Sunni background or persons from Islamic State
controlled areas risk being subjected to discriminatory treatment at checkpoints; however, the
source is not aware of the actual extent of such treatment.
147. The source does not have recent information on how unaccompanied women are treated at
checkpoints in Damascus. The last example of a woman facing difficulties at a checkpoint, which
the source is aware about, was a case from June 2017 where a woman was taken at a checkpoint
because her husband was a member of the city council in Zabadani (
اد ز ا).
148. The source has interviewed several women who were detained together with their children in
order to put pressure on their husbands, who are wanted by the government, because of their
affiliation to armed opposition groups.
Freedom of movement in Yarmouk
149. Access to Yarmouk is restricted as it is a besieged area, and it is difficult to obtain exact
information on what is going on in the area.
An international human rights organisation
Beirut, 14 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
150. There has been a critical development with regards to the security situation during the last year.
The security situation in Damascus City is very volatile as shelling of mortars and home-made
rockets from Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
) has been intensified
in recent months and a number of civilian areas such as public squares, local transportation and
schools have been struck. The number of mortar attacks a day fluctuates but have reached as high
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as sixty rockets in one day. No areas are immune to ground based strikes, but the areas mostly hit
by the attacks are areas in the vicinity of Eastern Ghouta like Jaramana (
ر
), Dahiyat al-Assad
(د
!ا
0)
and Dwel’a (
ود).
151. The source operates from outside Syria and is unable to attribute the responsibility of strikes to
any party to the conflict. Similarly, in most cases the source can confirm if an incident occurred in a
specific area and if it resulted in civilian casualties but cannot confirm the nature of the military
target. The source assumes that even if military facilities were targeted, one would never be
informed on that as neither the government nor the opposition would ever report something
which is not in their favour. Sometimes the opposition have said that they have targeted some
military facilities, government buildings or the Russian embassy, while the government has denied
it and said that mortars have only struck civilian areas.
152. In 2017, the security forces reportedly succeeded in preventing some suicide attacks and car
bombs at checkpoints in Damascus. However, on 15 March 2017, the Palace of Justice (Qasr al-
Adl,
لد ار
) in the city’s downtown area was subjected to a suicide attack. Islamic State took
responsibility for this attack. In addition, there were a series of significant incidents of suicide
attacks in the heart of Damascus during the summer of 2017 - e.g. on 2 July 2017, a car bomb
detonated in the Bab Touma (
و ب
) neighbourhood of Damascus, allegedly causing the death of
at least six civilians and an unknown number of wounded. The source considers that the attack on
the Palace of Justice was a message from jihadist opposition groups to the government that they
are capable of striking government institutions, even in the centre of the city.
Security situation in Yarmouk
153. Yarmouk (كو
ر ا)
and Hajar al-Aswad (دو
!ا ر ا)
in south Damascus are controlled by Islamic
State and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS,
م ا ر ر 6 ھ
). In addition, there are a number of other
groups present in the area such as pro-government Palestinian groups, which contributes to the
complexity and dynamic of the security situation.
154. There have been clashes between different groups in south Damascus for more than one year, and
according to reports regularly received by the source, civilians have been affected by the
persistent violence plaguing the area, i.e. shootings and clashes. It is not clear yet how the
government is going to tackle the situation in south Damascus. The source does not have accurate
information on the number of civilians in the area or the extent to which civilians in south
Damascus have been affected by the on-going conflict, including the number of civilian casualties.
155. The source has not seen reports on shelling towards Damascus City from Yarmouk.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus province
156. The source stresses that it usually does not collect information about the security situation in
Damascus City.
157. The source anticipates that the on-going shelling from Eastern Ghouta will diminish once the
government retakes control over Damascus suburbs.
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1929384_0051.png
158. Although there have been no suicide attacks or car bombs in 2018, the source assesses that the
risk of such attacks will remain in the future, particularly when the government has driven Islamic
State and other jihadist groups out of the territories currently under the control of these groups.
The source believes that there is a high risk that attacks will be conducted in Damascus in the
future, including vehicle-borne explosive devices (VBIEDs), targeted assassinations and suicide
attacks.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
159. According to a map of IDP centres provided by the source, all IDP centres are now located in rural
Damascus.
234
Freedom of movement in Damascus province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
160. Checkpoints are an obstacle to freedom of movement for all citizens in Damascus City. All
checkpoints are controlled by the army and pro-government groups, including domestic and
foreign pro-Government of Syria militias.
161. There are two types of checkpoints: mobile and fixed. The source does not have information on
how prevalent checkpoints are in Damascus City as the source is not present there. Checkpoints
were present at key areas in Damascus City even before the current conflict.
162. The security situation in Damascus is currently tight, and the government is worried about terrorist
attacks, which has resulted in an increased number of checkpoints dispersed throughout the city.
163. People are reluctant to approach checkpoints as they may face extortion and be subjected to
investigation which might lead to detention.
164. There is no unified database containing all names of individuals who are wanted by the regime.
Instead, different wanted lists are circulating among checkpoints, and these lists include different
levels of information regarding each person that is wanted by the regime. At checkpoints, the
security officials mostly check ID cards. However, the process at checkpoints is not framed, and
there are a number of factors that determine what actually happens at a checkpoint and how
people are treated when approaching a checkpoint. Some of these factors are: the person in
charge at the checkpoint, the operating authority at the checkpoint, time of day, similarity of one’s
name to that of someone else who is wanted by the regime, family members wanted by the
regime, a person’s area of origin. In particular, information about a person’s area of origin is used
in a discriminatory manner as checkpoint authorities take into consideration if the area in question
is controlled by the opposition or the regime.
165. There is always an uncertainty about what happens when people approach a checkpoint.
Sometimes civilians who have settled previous issues with the regime or who did not have a
problem with the regime in the first place are held up or arrested at checkpoints. In addition, there
are examples of individuals being released by one security branch and then being arrested by
234
The map is not included in the meeting minutes as it would reveal the identity of the source. (ed.)
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another security branch right after their release. However, the source underlines that the
mentioned obstacles do not mean that people in general are not moving around in the city, going
to work nor having a social life. The point is that some people may be subjected to obstacles when
approaching a checkpoint and some people may voluntarily restrict their own movement based on
fear of reprisals from the regime. As an example, men at military age not already serving avoid
checkpoints for fear of being conscripted or detained.
166. A person’s socio-economic background is not a key criterion with regard to freedom of movement.
Other factors, as mentioned above, play a bigger role.
167. The source considers unaccompanied women being extremely vulnerable with regard to freedom
of movement in the sense that they are less protected than men and they may be subjected to
sexual harassment or pressure to provide information about their relatives when they go through
checkpoints. In 2018, the source received reports of women being arrested at checkpoints in
Damascus suburbs due to their relatives’ activities. Although these cases have not been seen in
Damascus City, the source assumes that this could also happen in the city.
168. The source believes that the above remains a source of concern for the protection and well-being
of civilians in the foreseeable future.
169. Moreover, IDP in IDP centres in Damascus City have to carry ID documents in order to be able to
move around in the city.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (21 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
170. The Government of Syria asserted full control of the Eastern Ghouta in April 2018 after conducting
evacuation of a large number of opposition fighters and civilians from the area. As a result,
ground-strikes carried out from Eastern Ghouta to Damascus and rural Damascus stopped.
171. Armed opposition groups controlling the nearby area of Yalda (اد& ), Babbila (2 ) and Beit Sahm
(م
ت
) were reportedly evacuated towards the North of the country in May 2018. As a result, no
area in Damascus or rural Damascus remains under the control of armed opposition groups, with
the exception of Islamic State-held Hajr al-Aswad / Yarmouk camp. Fierce clashes and airstrikes
continue to be reported in these areas at the time of writing.
172. The Syrian government and its allies have been carrying out an offensive on Islamic State-held
Yarmouk camp and Hajr al-Aswad since mid-April, which resulted in displacements of population
towards both opposition-held and government-held areas. Sporadic ground-based strikes were
reported in Damascus as well as in rural Damascus since then. Though it is expected that
government forces and their allies will manage to take control of Islamic State-held areas in the
near future, it is unclear when this will happen and what will be the fate of fighters and their
families. An unknown number of those reportedly left the area and some of them were allegedly
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detained by armed opposition groups in April. There are concerns that Islamic State-elements
would in the future resort to terror attacks in Damascus after they will lose control of areas that
they held in South Damascus. In May 2018, shelling towards Damascus City from Yarmouk was
reported on several instances, while the source cannot formally attribute the responsibility of the
strikes.
An international organisation in Syria
Damascus, 20 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus
173. At the moment, one of the most dangerous cities for our organisation’s activities is Damascus. The
only opposition held areas surrounding Damascus City are Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet Dimasq as-
Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
) and the Yarmouk-area. Until now, clashes in Eastern Ghouta have
been concentrated in the western part of the area which is close to Damascus City while it has
been relatively calm in Douma (
ود
) and Harasta (
ر
). However on 19 March 2018, the Syrian
army started shelling Douma.
174. From the beginning of 2017 and until the beginning of 2018, the Syrian government has gained
control over more areas in Eastern Ghouta. A Russian report of 20 March 2018 states that the
Syrian army now controls 65 pct. of Eastern Ghouta.
Security situation in Damascus City
175. Since the beginning of the government operation in Eastern Ghouta in March 2018, more than 300
mortars have struck Damascus City. Most of the mortars have hit the eastern parts of Damascus
City, including the old city. The second most targeted part of the city has been the city centre and
Abou Roummaneh (
ر و أ
). From time to time, the area around the Four Seasons Hotel and Dama
Rose Hotel and the Mezzeh (ةز
ا)
area have also been hit. The reason why it is primarily these
areas that have been hit is because the range of mortars is usually not more than five to six km
and to reach areas beyond that, e.g. Mezzeh which is twelve km away, the opposition groups need
rockets; a capacity that most of the opposition groups do not have any more. Currently, most
mortars and home-made rockets are being fired from Douma because opposition groups in other
areas have lost their capacity to fire mortars with longer range.
176. It is very clear that the opposition also intends to target civilian areas with mortars and not only
government buildings or military facilities. The source assesses that this is due to the fact that if
civilian areas are targeted, civilians will in turn put pressure on the government. Furthermore, 90
pct. of mortars launched towards Damascus throughout the whole conflict have hit civilian areas.
177. Mortar attacks against Damascus City have never stopped completely since the beginning of the
conflict in Syria, and about 10,000-15,000 persons have been killed or injured in Damascus City by
approximately 50,000 mortars within the past seven years. Most mortars have hit the eastern
parts of Damascus and the old city. Between March and September 2017, where there was a
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ceasefire, there were very few mortars fired towards the city, only around 100 during the entire
period. However, the number of mortars fired towards Damascus rose again after September.
178. During the first and second week of March 2018, respectively 211 and 88 mortars struck Damascus
City, so the number of mortars hitting the city has been reduced within the second week of March
2018.
179. During the year 2017, around 2,000-3,000 people were killed or injured in Damascus City due to
mortar attacks. Most civilians that are initially registered as having been injured, subsequently die
from their injuries.
180. During last year, there were six suicide attacks inside Damascus City where the attackers came
from the Yarmouk area. They targeted places such as police stations and the Palace of Justice
(Qasr al-Adl,
لد ار
). The incident at the Palace of Justice caused 80 injuries and 37 fatalities. The
suicide bombers have only managed to attack targets in the southern parts of the city, because in
order to penetrate further into the city, they would have to pass through checkpoints whereby
increasing the likelihood of being intercepted. The total number of casualties related to the
abovementioned suicide attacks were approximately fifty people. The last suicide attack was
carried out in Khaled Ibn Walid street
(د و ن 1ا د $)
in October 2017.
181. In one of the suicide incidents which took place in December 2016, a Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS,
م ا ر ر 6 ھ
) member sent his eight-year-old daughter out in the streets with explosives wrapped
around her body. As she was crying, the police came and took her to the police station at which
point she detonated the explosives inside the police station. Later on, the father was killed by the
opposition at his home in the southern parts of Damascus. After this incident, for ten days, even
children were checked at all checkpoints in Damascus City (including those inside the city), when
families were approaching checkpoints. However, in the next two months, such thorough checking
of families was limited to checkpoints at entrances to the city, particularly the eastern and
southern entrances, i.e. entrances reaching Eastetn Ghouta, the Yarmouk Camp and Dara’a.
182. Regarding prevalence of assassinations of government officials in Damascus, the last incident that
the source is aware of was a car bomb targeting the prime minister. It took place three years ago
near the checkpoint close to the Danish embassy, but it failed. Opposition groups continuously
announce on social media that they have succeeded in assassinating government officials.
However, the information that they publish on this topic is unconfirmed and unsubstantiated.
Security situation in Yarmouk
183. As a result of clashes between Islamic State and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS,
م ا ر ر 6 ھ
) in
Yarmouk Camp (كو
ر ا م $
) two months ago, Islamic State succeeded in advancing in Hay’at Tahrir
al-Sham’s areas. The fighting between the groups was due to a territorial conflict, and it did not
result in any major movement of internally displaced persons (IDP) as there are not many civilians
left in the Yarmouk Camp. With regards to the number of civilians inside the Yarmouk Camp, there
is no statistics on how many civilians are living there. Since Islamic State took control of the camp,
even UNRWA has not had access to the camp. However, based on the number of Palestinians who
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have left Yarmouk for other areas like Jaramana (
ر
) and Sayyida Zainab (ب
ز ةد ا)
the source
assesses that there are not many civilians left in Yarmouk.
184. There was a small pocket in the Yarmouk Camp controlled by the Free Syrian Army (FSA, al-Jaysh
as-Suri al-Hurr,
ر ا يرو ا ش ا),
but they entered a reconciliation agreement with the
government last week, and 300 fighters were evacuated to Idlib. On 20 March 2018, there were
reports on an ambush against the army by Islamic State in the al-Qadam (مد
ا)
area close to
Yarmouk where around 100 soldiers were killed. Because of the ambush, the government
launched an operation against Islamic State that began with heavy air force shelling. Until
yesterday, it was expected that the government would enter a reconciliation agreement with
Islamic State in Yarmouk, but after Islamic State’s attack on 20 March 2018, it is anticipated that
when the Eastern Ghouta offensive is accomplished, the government will launch a comprehensive
military operation against Islamic State in Yarmouk and other areas in the southern part of
Damascus City.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus province
185. The source expects that the government will most likely be in control of the entire Eastern Ghouta,
except Douma, by the beginning of April 2018 if the army advances in the same pace as it has done
since the beginning of the operation.
186. In Douma, Jaysh al-Islam (م2
4ا ش
) has 10,000 fighters who have rockets and missiles. However,
the source assesses that the fighters in Douma will most likely enter an agreement with the
government as both parties want to avoid clashes because most of Eastern Ghouta’s civilians live
in Douma.
187. Most reports state that there are 400,000 civilians living in Douma, but there is always an
uncertainty about the number of civilians in areas controlled by the opposition, and the real
number could be more or less than the expected. For instance, two years ago, when the
opposition in Darayya (
راد
) entered an agreement with the government and moved to Idlib (ب
دإ),
it turned out that there were only about 500 civilians in the area while it was previously estimated
that 80,000-100,000 civilians were living there.
188. Regarding the possibility of jihadist groups in the southern Damascus suburbs starting an
insurgency in Damascus with suicide attacks when they have lost their territories to the
government, the source does not find it highly probable. The source explains his assessment by
saying that east and north Homs or east Aleppo were also previously under the control of jihadist
groups, but no insurgency has emerged in these areas since the government have recaptured
them. In addition, the security forces have succeeded in getting complete control over these areas.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
189. In Damascus, most of the IDPs are wealthy persons from Deir ez-Zor who reside in affluent areas
of the city such as Mezzeh where they rent or buy property. Other IDPs tend to move to the west
coast and cities such as Tartus (سوطرط) or Latakia (
ذ2 ا),
because it is cheaper and safer there
compared to Damascus where life has become expensive in recent years.
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190. Until now, it has not been clear how the government wants to deal with civilians leaving Eastern
Ghouta. At the moment, some of the civilians leaving Eastern Ghouta are accommodated in
shelters in Damascus suburbs, but it is not clear whether they will be allowed to leave the shelters
and/or enter Damascus City. Currently, there are no IDP camps in Damascus City.
191. The IDPs approaching Damascus City from Eastern Ghouta are primarily people from the part of
Eastern Ghouta that is closest to the city. IDPs from Harasta and Douma will most probably enter
some kind of evacuation deal with the Syrian government and go to another part of the country.
Freedom of movement in Damascus province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
192. It has become easier to move around in Damascus City as the number of checkpoints inside the
city has been reduced by 30 pct. within the past six months.
193. Regarding impact of one’s ethnic and religious background or place of origin on freedom of
movement and treatment by authorities at checkpoints, there have been cases where these
factors have had an impact, but they are few. In general, people do not face difficulties passing
through checkpoints and moving around. Having a Sunni background is not, in itself, an obstacle
for freedom of movement as many soldiers at checkpoints have Sunni background themselves.
Usually, checkpoint officers do not stop people due to their backgrounds; many internally
displaced persons (IDP) from Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor (روز
ا ر د)
live in Damascus, and they move
around freely without facing difficulties at checkpoints. If the checkpoint personnel is suspicious of
someone, it is mostly due to other factors, for instance that he/she carries a huge amount of
money etc.
194. Concerning lists of wanted persons at checkpoints, the checkpoints at the entrance to Damascus
have computers with access to a database with names of wanted persons. For instance, on the
road to Homs, they check IDs of people who are leaving for or are coming from the northern part
of Syria against such wanted lists.
195. Checkpoints inside Damascus do not have computers and the authorities would only search
passing cars if they find it necessary. If they happen to want to check people’s identity, it is only
the ID documents which are checked and this ID is not checked against a list. If checkpoint
personnel find something suspicious about a person, they may close the road and check the
suspected person’s mobile and social media. They may also close the road if a security incident
happens. However, usually at checkpoints inside the city they do not ask people questions and will
probably only search the vehicle. Five years ago, they checked everything at checkpoints inside the
city, but now they mostly let people go through without checking anything. It is only at
checkpoints at the northern entrance to the city where people are checked more thoroughly.
196. Checkpoints inside Damascus are run by different security agencies, and there has always been
some competition between these agencies. Even before the crisis in Syria, different parts of
Damascus were monitored and controlled by different security service branches. However,
procedures at all checkpoints throughout the city are the same regardless of which security agency
controls them, and they are coordinated at higher levels.
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1929384_0057.png
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the minutes (31 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
197. The number of checkpoints in the east and south of Damascus has been reduced now and the
main road between Damascus and Homs is reopened.
198. Since the government has retaken control of Eastern Ghouta, there have been no mortar impacts
from Eastern Ghouta on the city; except one in the Marjah (
ر ا)
area, and one IED attack in the
Maysaat area (ت
ا).
235
199. Regarding the situation in the Yarmouk Camp, the Syrian army continues its military operation
against Islamic State in the south of Damascus, and the Islamic State is targeting the southern
areas of the city (Midan and Zahera areas) with mortars.
An international security organisation
Damascus, 22 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
200. The security situation in Damascus province is highly interlinked with the situation in Rif Dimashq
(ق
د ف ر)
as armed opposition groups in Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
طو
ر ا ق د)
fire mortars towards Damascus City. Indirect artillery fire is happening almost every
day with approximately five to ten impacts daily. The mortars have the capacity to hit any area.
201. The government’s operation in Eastern Ghouta was launched on 18 February 2018 and by 18
March 2018, the government had taken approximately eighty pct. of the area.
202. The main armed opposition groups present in Eastern Ghouta that the government is currently
negotiating with are: Jaysh al-Islam (م2
4ا ش
), Ahrar al-Sham (
م ا رار أ
) and Faylaq al-Rahman
(ن
ر ا ق& 3
). According to sources, the four main armed opposition groups active in Eastern Ghouta
are Jaysh al-Islam (8,500 fighters), Faylaq al-Rahman (7,000 fighters), Ahrar al-Sham (2,500
fighters) and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS,
م ا ر ر 6 ھ
) (250 fighters).
235
The National reported on 9 May 2018: ‘Two
people were killed and several others wounded in a car bomb and
shellfire in Syria’s capital Damascus on Wednesday, state television said. “Two killed and 14 injured in terrorist attacks
on Damascus Tower and Maysat Square,” it reported. They struck at the tower in the central Marjeh Square district,
and the car bomb went off in the northeast of the city. Images of security forces gathered around a burnt-out skeleton
of a car in Maysat Square were broadcast on state television. The blast came as regime forces battle to flush out ISIS
from the southern districts of the capital, including Yarmouk and the adjacent Hajar Al Aswad neighbourhood.’
The national, 9 May 2018,
https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/two-killed-in-damascus-car-bomb-and-shellfire-
1.728695
[accessed 11 June 2018] (ed.)
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Security situation in Damascus City
203. During 14-20 March 2018, reports indicate that there were a total of 88 indirect artillery fires
hitting Damascus City with 78 civilian casualties, i.e. seven killed and 71 wounded. In 2017, only in
Damascus City, 759 indirect artillery fires were recorded.
204. The armed opposition groups launching mortars towards Damascus are not targeting specific
areas and the projectiles are impacting indiscriminately, which is why civilians are put in danger.
The areas in Damascus City mainly hit by mortar fire are Old Damascus (Dimasq
al-Qadima,
ق د
د ا),
Dahiyyat al-Assad (د
!ا
0),
Zablatani (
ط& ز),
Jaramana (
ر
) and Wafdeen Camp
(Mukhayyim
al-Wafdeen,
ن د3او ا م $
). Sources indicated that more than 48,000 civilians have been
evacuated through humanitarian corridors. 20 March 2018, several mortars landed in a market
place in Dwel’a (
ود)
which resulted in 44 civilians being killed.
205. The most intensive shelling of Damascus City has been in the old city of Damascus and adjacent
areas with the old city being affected the most with 80-85 pct. of mortars hitting there. Some
mortars have also been hitting close to Dama Rose Hotel and the Ummayyad Square (Sahet
al-
Umawyeen,
ن و !ا
).
206. Although rare, as of 22 March, every month there have been few incidents of shelling of Damascus
City by armed opposition groups in Yarmouk (كو
ر ا)
and Qadam (مد
ا).
207. Security incidents such as suicide bombs in Damascus City have not happened within the last two
months. However, last year there were a number of suicide attacks and also several dismantled
attacks. Suicide attackers primarily target government facilities like police stations. As per our
sources, a total of ten suicidal/suicidal-VBIED incidents occurred in Damascus in 2017.
Security situation in Yarmouk
208. Hajar al-Aswad (دو
!ا ر ا)
is controlled by Islamic State whereas Yalda (اد& ), Babbila (2 ) and
Beit Sahm (م
ت
) are mainly controlled by a variety of armed opposition groups.
209. While Yarmouk Camp (Mukhayyim al-Yarmouk,
كو ر ا م $
) has not yet experienced the same level
of engagement from the government as Eastern Ghouta, there has been an escalation of fighting
between the Syrian Arab Army (al-Jaysh al-Arabi as-Suri,
يرو ا ر ا ش ا
) and Islamic State in
both Qadam and in Yarmouk.
210. Civilians in Yarmouk, Qadam, Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahm are, due to the besiegement of these
areas, stuck there.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus Province
211. In the future, as the government takes control of more territory, an escalation of insurgency
attacks in Damascus and other places is likely. This is because, when armed opposition groups are
oppressed, they will find a way to attack government facilities and soft targets. Armed opposition
groups such as Al-Qaeda affiliated groups and Islamic State likely to target the international
community.
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212. The source has found that in areas previously controlled by Islamic State such as Deir ez-Zor and
Raqqa, insurgency attacks carried out by Islamic State have persisted. Such incidents have
occurred four to six times monthly, even though the areas are almost completely cleared. The
security incidents consist of armed clashes, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED),
improvised explosive devices (IED) and suicide attacks.
213. An assessment of the security situation in Damascus in the future if/when Eastern Ghouta falls will
depend on the current ongoing political negotiations. If the armed opposition groups decide to
prolong the political talks with the government, the current situation will continue for some time.
However, if the armed opposition groups accept the terms of the political talks with the
government/regime forces, it will not take the government a long time to clear Eastern Ghouta.
The government and the army are currently in a winning mode and are determined to clean the
area, either by negotiations or by military actions.
214. The source assesses that the government will initiate an offensive in Yarmouk, Qadam, Yalda,
Babbila and Beit Sahm after the operation in Eastern Ghouta has finished.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
215. There has been an influx of internally displaced persons (IDP) in Damascus province during the
past seven years, especially from areas with active fighting and military operations. However,
whenever an area is no longer close to an active frontline, most Syrians prefer to return to their
homes, which is why the number of IDPs living in Damascus has diminished. For instance, a larger
group of IDPs took shelter in Damascus during the offensives on Raqqa (
ر ا)
and Deir ez-Zor (
ر د
روز ا),
but are now gradually returning to their area of origin.
216. At the time of reporting, 80,000 civilians have exited Ghouta from different sites in Damascus
suburbs, and the authorities have established several shelters in the surrounding suburban areas.
The shelters are supported by the UN agencies, however, are governed by the Syrian Arab Red
Crescent (SARC) and the government.
Freedom of movement in Damascus Province
217. The purpose of the government’s checkpoints is to check individuals travelling from other areas to
Damascus where people will undergo screening and be asked about the identity and purpose of
their travel.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (23 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
218. The UN has limited access to Eastern Ghouta as the Government of Syria with Regime Forces
support are clearing the area from unexploded ordinances (UXOs)/mines.
219. Government of Syria forces currently are fully engaged with Islamic State in Yarmouk and adjacent
areas. Airstrikes, shelling and armed conflict is reportedly daily. Damascus City areas are now
receiving more indirect artillery fires from Yarmouk.
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Christopher Kozak, Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
Skype, 17 March 2018
General Security Situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
220. Over the past year, the situation within Damascus City has been relatively stable but shaped
heavily by the corresponding situation in Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ق د طو
ر ا).
The intensity of indiscriminate shelling by armed opposition groups targeting districts in
Damascus City depends on the corresponding military pressure that the Syrian Government puts
on Eastern Ghouta. The incidence of shelling episodes in Damascus City have increased since the
start of the pro-government ground campaign against the armed opposition in Eastern Ghouta in
February 2018. This shelling primarily targets districts close to Eastern Ghouta although it can
reach further into Damascus City. The shelling will get worse before opposition-held areas in
Eastern Ghouta such as Douma (
ود),
Irbin (ن
ر:)
and Harasta (
ر
) ultimately surrender to the
Syrian Government.
221. The pro-government security level inside Damascus City remains about the same as prior years
although the government has closed some checkpoints in some areas to restore normalcy,
potentially enabling some extremist groups (e.g. Islamic State) being able to launch attacks inside
Damascus City.
222. The source suspects that the Islamic State will pose the primary threat from Southern Damascus
against Damascus City as other armed opposition groups operating in Southern Damascus are not
strong enough to pose a real threat to the Syrian Government. Opposition groups in Southern
Damascus have already shown their willingness to enter forced reconciliation deals with the Syrian
Government. Meanwhile, Islamic State has conducted several attacks attempting to target the
Sayyida Zainab Shrine (Maqam
al-Sayyida Zainab,
ب ز ةد ا م
) south of Damascus City, which
serves as a major mobilization point for Iranian-backed proxy groups including Iraqi Shi’a Militias
and the Afghan Shi’a Fatemiyoun Brigade (Liwa
al-Fatemiyoun,
نو ط ' ا ءاو
)
. In addition, a suicide
attack targeting the Palace of Justice (Qasr
al-Adl,
لد ار
) in Damascus City in March 2017 likely
came from Southern Damascus. Several other vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs)
have also been intercepted at checkpoints at the rim of Damascus City. These incidents
demonstrate that Islamic State is still capable of launching attacks inside Damascus City.
223. There is humanitarian pressure within Damascus City due to the displacement of civilians from the
opposition-held suburbs such as Eastern Ghouta into Damascus City itself.
224. The source considers the shelling conducted by armed opposition groups in Damascus City to be
’indiscriminate’ given that the shelling tends in general to target government-held districts rather
than specific military targets. Shelling is widespread across parts of Damascus City, and civilians
are regularly killed or injured in shelling incidents; though not to the same degree as civilians killed
and injured by pro-government forces in Eastern Ghouta. In some instances, projectiles have
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struck close to military installations or political centres – particularly the Russian Embassy in
Damascus - although armed opposition groups do not appear to have the capability to consistently
and accurately hit specific targets in Damascus City.
225. The threat of shelling is endemic in Damascus City but life is generally not paralysed. Some districts
are hit more often than others. The primary districts struck by shelling Damascus City are the
districts closest to Eastern Ghouta across the M5 Highway. These districts include Old Damascus
(Dimasq
al-Qadima,
د ا ق د)
and the surrounding neighbourhoods: Abaseen (ن
ا),
Jobar
(ر
و
), Bab al-Salaam (م2
ا ب
), Dwel’a (
ود),
Jaramana (
ر
), Qassaa (ع
ا),
Bab Touma (
ب
و
), and Amarah Jouwaniyah (
او ةر :
). Liberation Square (Midan
at-Tahrir,
ر ر ا ناد
) has
also been struck by opposition shelling.
226. Intensified shelling on Damascus City from Eastern Ghouta occurred between 19 and 21 February
2018. Since then, the intensity of shelling has declined but still continues steadily. The
intensification matched the escalation of the pro-government ground campaign against the armed
opposition in Eastern Ghouta.
227. Different types of shelling are used on Damascus City. The shells are generally military-style
mortars and other manufactured ammunition but they sometimes include homemade explosives.
Opposition groups have primarily relied upon mortars and other short-range indirect fire systems
but occasionally utilize homemade and manufactured rockets with a greater range than mortar
shells.
228. Opposition groups have also used so-called ‘hell cannons’ – large-calibre homemade artillery
systems - to target areas outside Eastern Ghouta. However, the ammunition fired from ‘hell
cannons’ is much heavier than a typical mortar or artillery shell and thus it cannot penetrate far
beyond frontlines.
229. The mortars used by opposition groups against Damascus City are generally typical mortar shells in
terms of size and amount of explosives. Mortars rely less upon explosives than the shrapnel
packed inside each round. Some mortars have landed in populated streets in dense districts - such
as the Old City of Damascus - where they have caused a number of shrapnel injuries among
civilians. If a mortar lands on a concrete roof, it will probably not penetrate the structure. Most
reported mortar strikes do not cause many casualties.
230. Open-source reporting has claimed roughly forty to fifty civilians killed and an equivalent number
injured by shelling in and around the Old City of Damascus over the last two months. The source
only collects information about major civilian casualty events and does not keep a running tally of
individual casualties.
231. Recently, the armed opposition has focused its attention more upon the ground fight against pro-
government forces than its shelling campaign in Damascus City. However, the opposition has
nonetheless sustained mortar attacks on Damascus City. The scale of casualties due to shelling on
Damascus City remains at a radically lower scale than the casualties caused by pro-government
operations in Eastern Ghouta.
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Security situation in Yarmouk
232. In the southern outskirts of Damascus City, pro-government forces continue their siege of
opposition-held districts of Southern Damascus. The opposition-held districts of Babbila (2 ), Beit
Sahm (م
ت
), Qadam (مد
ا),
and Yalda (اد& ) remain besieged by the Syrian Government. In the
third week of March 2018, opposition groups in Qadam District accepted a forced evacuation deal
from the Syrian Government that resulted in the displacement of 1,500 - 2,000 fighters and
civilians to Idlib Province in Northern Syria on 13 March 2018. The remaining residents and
civilians either remained in Qadam District under a forced reconciliation deal or displaced into
Damascus City. The regime has extended similar offers to the Yalda, Babbila and Beit Sahm
Districts.
233. The Hajar al-Aswad (دو
!ا ر ا)
and Yarmouk Camp (Mukhayyim al-Yarmouk,
كو ر ا م $
) Districts
of Southern Damascus are still held by Islamic State. Islamic State temporarily seized control of the
neighbouring Qadam District following the aforementioned evacuation of armed opposition
groups from Qadam District in March 2018. The source’s assessment is that Islamic State will
continue to exploit the reconciliation deals in other parts of Southern Damascus in order to put
pressure on local civilians and the Syrian Government.
234. In Yarmouk Camp and other districts of Southern Damascus, intense ground fighting between pro-
government and armed opposition groups has resulted in civilian casualties. There have been
some clashes between pro-government groups and Islamic State as well as armed opposition
groups and Islamic State. However, the main areas of violence remain largely unpopulated,
resulting in relatively-lower civilian casualties compared to Eastern Ghouta.
235. Islamic State in the Yarmouk Camp and Hajar al-Aswad Districts consists mostly of locals from
Hajar al-Aswad District as well as fighters from areas in Western Ghouta. It imposes most of the
same social structures and repressive elements applied in Eastern Syria by Islamic State. It is a full-
fledged branch of the Islamic State although there is not a large population of foreign fighters in
Southern Damascus.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus Province
236. The security situation in Damascus Province will depend on the timeframe for the defeat of the
armed opposition in Eastern Ghouta. Their defeat might occur within the next one to two months.
Ultimately, the armed opposition will be forced to surrender with those unwilling to reconcile with
the government evacuated to other areas – particularly Idlib and Aleppo Provinces in Northern
Syria. Until then, steady shelling will target Damascus City. The overall security situation will
improve at the conclusion of the fighting between pro-government and armed opposition groups
in Eastern Ghouta.
237. The Syrian Government has already closed checkpoints from some areas and remains willing to
push that process further to demonstrate the return of normal life in Damascus City. The
government desires to show its ability to clear populated areas in its capital from armed
opposition groups.
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238. Over the long term, we will likely see the development of an insurgency in Syria. The overall
situation over the next year may not be comparable to Iraq but we will likely witness repeated
spectacular attacks against civilian or government targets from time-to-time inside Damascus City.
Aleppo City, which pro-government forces secured in late 2016, already sees parallel low-level
insurgent violence as of March 2018. However, armed opposition groups as a whole have not yet
shifted their focus away from conventional warfare and fighting over terrain towards a full
insurgency model. The Syrian Government has also applied a consistent strategy to force the
relocation of the most irreconcilable opposition supporters from Damascus City and other urban
to other regions such as Idlib Province. Insurgent-style attacks inside pro-government urban
centers are thus only currently reported every few weeks or on a monthly basis.
239. Once armed opposition groups surrender in Eastern Ghouta - which the source anticipates will
occur within the next couple of months – pro-government forces might turn their eye in the
direction of the Yarmouk Camp to remove Islamic State from Southern Damascus and thereby take
full control of Damascus City. The Syrian Government is already allegedly negotiating an
agreement with Islamic State to relocate their fighters from Southern Damascus. Islamic State
previously expressed its willingness to relocate from Southern Damascus to Raqqa (
ر ا)
or Deir ez-
Zor (
روز ا ر د
) Provinces in Eastern Syria. However, armed opposition groups blocked these initial
deals by hindering the movement of Islamic State through their areas of control in Eastern Ghouta.
In particular, Jaysh al-Islam (م2
4ا ش
) rejected any transit by Islamic State.
240. The Syrian Government’s repeated use of forced relocation deals with armed opposition groups
has fuelled rumors of a deliberate policy to impose demographic change in some areas of Syria.
Some analysts term these demographic changes ‘organic’ while others consider them to be change
‘by design’. The source does not consider these changes to be an indication of a policy of total
ethnic reengineering - for instance, hundreds of thousands of Sunnis continue to live in Damascus
City. However, there is a focus on relocation of populations from historic opposition-supportive
regions in the Damascus Suburbs (e.g. in Darayya (
راد)
which accepted a forced relocation in late
2016). The Syrian Government is reportedly selling and renting property to Iran and Iranian-
backed proxy elements in certain areas including Darayya, Barsa (
ر ا),
and Qaboun (نو
ا)
in
Damascus City.
241. The Syrian Government thus does not seem to pursue a blanket relocation of select ethnic groups
(e.g. Sunnis) but rather the deliberate relocation of opposition-supportive elements to preserve
the dominance of a government-supportive population in strategic areas. In some areas, these
demographic shifts appear to be a deliberate effort to push out Sunnis in favour of Shi’a Muslims
and Alawites. However, these efforts only occur in some areas and are not systematic enough to
characterise as a deliberate nationwide social engineering campaign. Rather, relocation serves a
strategic purpose for the Syrian Government.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
242. The source primarily has his knowledge about IDPs from the UN.
243. The number of IDPs in Damascus City is estimated to be at least half a million with most living in
rented housing or staying with family members. The source is not aware of known ‘slums’ or other
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areas with a high concentration of IDPs in Damascus City. IDPs appear to be dispersed throughout
the city.
244. The source is not aware of any significant new movement of IDPs to Damascus City within the past
two years.
Freedom of movement in Damascus Province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
245. Inside Damascus City, there is a wide network of checkpoints run by a number of pro-government
armed groups including Syrian Air Force Intelligence (al-Mukhabarat
al-Jawiyya,
و ا تار $ ا
),
the Syrian National Defence Forces (Quwat
ad-Difa’ al-Watani,
طو ا ع 3د ا تاو
) and the Syrian
Arab Army (al-Jaysh
al-Arabi as-Suri,
يرو ا ر ا ش ا
).
246. Checkpoints are concentrated around key areas such as Damascus International Airport, Mezzeh
Military Airbase, the Syrian Presidential Palace, and the Old City of Damascus. In order to restore a
sense of normalcy, pro-government forces have removed some checkpoints in Damascus City. This
decision has resulted in some public outcry after a set of major suicide attacks in Damascus City,
especially the attack on the Palace of Justice (Qasr
al-Adl,
لد ار
) in March 2017.
247. There are currently fewer checkpoints in Damascus City than at the start of 2017. The proliferation
of checkpoints nonetheless remains a significant concern. Pro-government forces will most likely
remove additional checkpoints after the end of military operations in Eastern Ghouta, both to
promote normalcy and concentrate their limited resources in other areas such as Southern Syria.
248. At checkpoints, pro-government fighters conduct security checks and check for individuals wanted
for fighting with the armed opposition or avoiding military service. The checkpoints screen cars for
explosives, check identification documents, and search for men eligible for conscription. At some
checkpoints, civilians get through easily with a brief check of their documents and a quick look in
the boot of their car. At others, civilians have to physically leave their vehicle for a more thorough
search.
249. Syrian Air Force Intelligence reportedly runs some of the strictest checkpoints with regard to
adherence to regulations and depth of scrutiny when compared to the Syrian Arab Army or Syrian
National Defense Forces. Syrian Air Force Intelligence is reportedly concentrated in the western
part of Damascus City near Mezzeh Military Air Base (Matar
al-Mezzeh al-Askari,
ير- ا ةز ا ر ط
)
and the Syrian Presidential Palace.
250. Open-source reporting has highlighted numerous reports of extortion at checkpoints in which
civilians are threatened with jail or conscription if they fail to pay a bribe. Other reports allege
widespread theft at checkpoints including the confiscation of jewellery and other valuables from
civilians. Pro-government irregular fighters that run many of the checkpoints are not paid very well
and thus often take advantage of their position to augment their income through extortion of
civilians and merchants. The source considers this phenomenon to be a common characteristic of
a war economy in civil conflicts.
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251. At various times, civilians in pro-government areas have publically complained about abuses at
checkpoints, forcing pro-government forces to take action to reduce the number of checkpoints.
Open-source reports noted several episodes in which pro-government irregular fighters restricted
civilian movement through parts of Damascus City in 2017. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has
attempted to pass measures to restrict the number of abuses and criminal incidents at
checkpoints. The source emphasizes that although extortion at checkpoints is prevalent and
remains difficult to quantify in its full extent, it has not been widespread enough to paralyze
Damascus City.
252. Internally-displaced persons (IDP) from other areas - particularly civilians from areas previously
held by armed opposition groups or Islamic State in Eastern and Northern Syria - likely face
difficulties when attempting to navigate checkpoints in Damascus City. However, there are not
many reports about this issue.
253. Young men across all demographic categories consistently face difficulties attempting to navigate
checkpoints due to the continued search for individuals eligible for mandatory military service.
254. Family members of armed opposition fighters also sometimes faced difficulties when attempting
to navigate checkpoints. Open-source reporting has highlighted cases of such persons being
subjected to deeper scrutiny, including temporarily detention for some hours or lengthy meetings
with security services. The source has not seen reports on such cases within the last couple of
months and surmises that most such persons have either gone into hiding or have left
government-held areas in Damascus City.
255. The source stated that all checkpoints reportedly have access to a master list of wanted
individuals. This list is reportedly exhaustive in terms of both individuals with links to armed
opposition groups as well as individuals wanted for conscription. In some cases, individuals have
been mistaken for others on the wanted list and security personnel have called a central clearing
centre to cross-check the master list. However, the master list is fallible. Open-source reporting
has noted examples of individuals with targetable characteristics (i.e. failure to report through
conscription) who successfully navigated checkpoints to exit the country as well as individuals
detained at checkpoints despite meeting none of the aforementioned criteria.
256. The Syrian Government has reportedly begun sending its master list of wanted individuals directly
to checkpoint personnel in order to circumvent police stations, which are known for taking bribes
to warn or turn a blind eye to individuals wanted for conscription.
Freedom of movement in Yarmouk
257. Previously, civilians living in Yarmouk Camp District and surrounding areas of Southern Damascus
could get essentials through a passage between the Islamic State-held Hajar al-Aswad and
opposition-held Yalda Districts, but this passage has been closed by pro-government forces in
order to cut supplies to Islamic State.
Returnees
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258. Currently, the numbers of returnees from abroad remains small. The number of returnees from
abroad during the last year was definitely less than a hundred thousand people across all of Syria.
Most returnees return due to advances by pro-government forces that move frontlines away from
their homes and therefore restore calm or stability to the area. Over the past year, the largest
number of returnees returned to Aleppo City after its recapture by the Syrian Government in
December 2016. Civilians often return to these areas to resettle and rebuild their life or
temporarily visit to check on their homes and possessions.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (21 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
259. The security situation has improved relatively dramatically in Damascus City since the surrender of
armed opposition groups in Eastern Ghouta in March – April 2018. Jaysh al-Islam, Faylaq al-
Rahman, and other armed opposition groups accepted forced reconciliation and/or evacuation
deals to depart Eastern Ghouta for Idlib and Aleppo Provinces in Northern Syria. All shelling has
ceased from Eastern Ghouta to Damascus City although isolated shelling from Islamic State in
Yarmouk Camp District in Southern Damascus still occasionally targets Damascus City. The Syrian
Government will likely over the coming month begin shifting military personnel and other security
infrastructure out of Damascus City towards Dera’a and Quneitra Provinces in Southern Damascus.
The Syrian Government will likely also attempt to reinforce its claims of victory in Damascus by
dismantling additional checkpoints and fortifications across Damascus City. Damascus City
nonetheless remains vulnerable to insurgent-style attacks by Islamic State and Al-Qaeda.
260. Pro-government forces launched a major military operation to seize the Hajar al-Aswad and
Yarmouk Camp Districts held by Islamic State in Southern Damascus in May 2018. The military
escalation included intense aerial and artillery bombardment of Hajar al-Aswad and Yarmouk
Camp Districts. Islamic State in Southern Damascus later accepted a deal to evacuate from
Damascus City to Eastern Syria in late May 2018. Armed opposition groups in the Yalda, Babbila
and Beit Sahm Districts also accepted a joint evacuation and reconciliation deal to leave Southern
Damascus for Idlib and Aleppo Provinces in April – May 2018. The Syrian Government declared
total control over Damascus City on May 21, 2018.
Danish Red Cross
Beirut, 14 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
261. Since January 2018, the security situation in central Damascus has changed a great deal.
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262. There is currently a greater risk for civilians in central Damascus. It is a matter of being at the
wrong place at the wrong time. Most of the mortars land without causing any casualties.
263. The shelling of Damascus does not happen on a daily basis. There are certain periods of time
where the shelling intensifies. For instance, recently there have been two periods of time where
the shelling has been quite intense with up to hundreds of mortars being fired towards Damascus
City during those days.
264. The armed opposition groups are not able to hit specific targets with the projectiles. The mortars
hit public areas, for instance the area surrounding The Four Seasons hotel, marketplaces and
residential areas. The source does not know if there are any areas that have never been hit.
However, it is the source’s assessment that if they can hit central Damascus, which is a bit far from
Eastern Ghouta, it means that the weapons used have a long range, and they can reach other
places further away.
265. Due to the inaccuracy of the projectiles, they are sometimes hitting in public areas with high
concentration of civilians, such as marketplaces, which is why it has become increasingly harder
for civilians to go about their daily lives. Generally, life in Damascus has become more intense
because of the current situation, and daily activities have been reduced.
266. Apart from the projectiles that are being fired from Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet
Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
), the situation in Ghouta has not influenced the situation in Damascus.
267. Regarding the prevalence of suicide attacks, the source has not heard of such attacks, but
considers it a possibility that such attacks take place in areas with close proximity to front lines.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus province
268. When Eastern Ghouta is taken by the government of Syria, it is not clear which area the
government will target next.
269. In areas recently taken by the government, there are a large number of manufactured
ammunitions that have not gone off, and civilians are at risk of being killed by these remnants of
war. For this reason, in order to consider an area completely cleared, there will be a need for a
centimetre by centimetre clearing of the areas. Armed opposition groups often leave behind
booby traps, thereby inflicting civilian casualties.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
270. Internally displaced persons (IDP) are not concentrated in certain areas in Damascus but are
instead dispersed throughout the city. IDPs in Damascus are from all parts of the country and
often live in apartments with their relatives and friends squeezed together in one apartment.
271. The population in Damascus has grown due to the large number of IDPs living in the city. This has
in turn put pressure on housing, food, water, electricity and access to schools.
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Freedom of movement in Damascus province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
272. Because of the security situation, the movement in Damascus City is highly regulated in form of
checkpoints, and there is a very visible security presence in and around every road going in and
out from Damascus. Due to the number of checkpoints in Damascus City, movement is slowed
down but is not stopped.
273. There are two lines through every checkpoint, one line is a privileged line and another line is a
regular line. Vehicles travelling through the privileged line are not held up for long whereas regular
people are held up for hours to pass checkpoints. People are not held up at every checkpoint, and
not equally. At some checkpoints the checks appear very cursory whilst at others they are more
thorough. The checkpoints impede but do not stop the follow of traffic and commerce around the
city. The source cannot say whether people experience random stops, or whether some people
tend to be singled-out to be delayed more than others.
274. At checkpoints, various profiles are checked. Anyone who does not have a clear reason for
travelling will avoid it as a lot of people are afraid of passing checkpoints. However, many people
are still going out and the checkpoints do not stop them, perhaps because they have nothing to
fear. Those who have something to fear would avoid exposing themselves at checkpoints because
they could get into trouble trying to pass through them. The source doubts that very many people
are actually stopped and arrested at checkpoints, but clearly they act as a deterrent for those who
do have something to fear, from trying to pass through them.
Returnees
275. There have not been any big flows of returns from abroad. There is a slow and steady trickle from
and to Syria all the time, but that does not mean that refugees are returning for good. Mostly
when people come back to Syria, it is because they want to check on the situation (their house,
their land etc.) after which they exit the country again. It is the source’s view that larger flows
from abroad often happen because neighbouring host countries push Syrian refugees back. Most
returnees are not refugees, but IDPs going back to areas where there is no longer active fighting.
The source assumes that there has not been any return to Damascus.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (27 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
276. In short, the situation in Damascus has changed dramatically since February this year, as the
Government of Syria now has complete control of all of Rural Damascus Governorate, although
the state of alertness and tolerance of the security forces has not changed. If anything they are
even less relaxed, perhaps not wanting to be seen as being responsible for things slipping back to
the situation where the Government of Syria controlled much less than half the country.
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277. Missiles/mortars have stopped falling in the centre of Damascus and the city is a lot busy at all
times of day. The armed opposition groups have been moved to other governorates like Idlib, far
from Damascus, or they have melted away into Syria or even across an international border, and
they have not yet adopted new strategies of asymmetric warfare, such as vehicle-borne
improvised explosive device (VBIED) attacks. In all senses Damascus seems a lot more busy and full
of economic activity than a few months ago, although the overt presence of security force
personnel in the streets is still very evident.
278. Yarmouk has also been retaken by the government, but it is almost completely destroyed and
uninhabitable. Not only are the buildings derelict or completely collapsed but there is no power,
water, sewerage or other utilities, and no people able to live there to bring life back to the camp.
On top of this the rubble must be mixed with a very high concentration of explosive remnants of
war (ERW) which would be very hazardous to the former residents of the camp if they tried to
return now. None or very few appear to have done so.
Lama Fakih, deputy director, Human Rights Watch (HRW)
Beirut, 14 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
279. HRW information regarding the situation is limited as it does not have access to Damascus. HRW’s
information mainly originates from contacts that travel there or from communication with
contacts on the phone.
Security situation in Damascus City
280. In terms of the security situation, there has been shelling of Damascus City by armed opposition
groups in Damascus suburbs (Rif Dimashq), i.e. Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet
Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
), and the frequency of shelling appears to correlate with the government’s
offensive in the area.
281. There is currently an escalation of shelling on Damascus City, but HRW does not know precisely to
what extent people are being affected as HRW only has limited access to civilians inside Damascus
City center who can confirm what HRW hears from the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
282. Areas with close proximity to Eastern Ghouta, for instance Jaramana (
ر
) and Sayyida Zainab
(ب
ز ةد ا),
have been hit frequently by heavy strikes in terms of shelling from opposition groups.
283. The shelling hitting Damascus City consists of smaller mortars that are not targeted and therefore
strike the city indiscriminately. Despite the fact that mortars are characterized as smaller
weaponry, they have the capacity to cause destruction and casualties, depending on where they
hit. The mortars falling in Damascus have caused civilian casualties because they often hit civilian
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1929384_0070.png
infrastructure such as busy roads, school buses, market areas, around train stations etc.
236
Government facilities have also been hit, but not to the same extent as civilian infrastructure. As
an example, an attack on November 14 by the anti-government armed groups Faylaq al-Rahman
(ن
ر ا ق& 3
) and Ahrar al-Sham (م
ا رار أ)
on a strategic objective, the Vehicles Administration
Center, near the town of Harasta (
ر
), could be mentioned
284. Opposition groups have also made use of a combination of shelling and explosives - in the shape of
car bombs, improvised explosive devices and suicide attacks -when they launch retaliatory attacks
towards Damascus. The frequency of such attacks is difficult for HRW to confirm as it mainly relies
on public reporting from the government. Based on the reported attacks, it seems that such
attacks are happening more frequently now compared to previous years.
285. The source has not heard of any shelling from opposition controlled southern pockets on
Damascus City.
286. There have also been incidents of car bombs
237
and suicide attacks in Damascus targeting both
civilians and military objectives
238
, for instance there have been attacks on police stations and the
Russian cultural center. The reported attacks seem to be more infrequent than earlier. Not all
attacks have been claimed by armed groups.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus Province
287. It is the assessment of the source that when the government retakes Eastern Ghouta there will be
a decrease in mortar attacks targeting Damascus. It is a strategy for the government to secure the
entire capital and once Eastern Ghouta falls, the dynamics in the capital are going to change quite
significantly.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
288. There are a number of internally displaced persons (IDP) in Damascus. IDPs are, depending on
their financial means, staying in rental or group accommodations. HRW has also received reports
that some IDPs are staying in parks and gardens.
289. IDPs are arriving from different cities, but the largest movements of IDPs towards Damascus are
mainly originating from those areas where there is ongoing active fighting. For instance, there
As an example, the source referred to this article by Reuters about a mortar bomb that hit the entrance to a major
trade fair being held in the Syrian capital in August 2017:
Six people killed in mortar attack at Damascus fair: monitor,
20 August 2017, available at:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-mortar/six-people-killed-in-mortar-attack-at-damascus-fair-
monitor-idUSKCN1B00MX
[accessed 17 May 2018]
237
As an example of a car bomb in Damascus targeting civilians, the source referred to this article by the Daily Star:
Multiple deaths after Syria car bomb 'worse than mortar' goes off in busy square,
9 May 2018, available at:
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/701521/syria-car-bomb-damascus-explosion-maysat-square-worse-
than-mortar
[accessed 17 May 2018]
238
As examples of military objectives being hit, the source referred to this photo at the website of the Telegraph:
Syria: car bomb shakes Damascus near headquarters of ruling party,
available at:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/9885424/Syria-car-bomb-shakes-Damascus-near-
headquarters-of-ruling-party.html
[accessed 17 May 2018]
236
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have been IDPs travelling to Damascus from Deir ez-Zor (روز
ا ر د)
and Raqqa (
ر ا),
even though
the vast majority of IDPs from both Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa have travelled to the Northern parts of
the country.
290. IDPs displaced from Ghouta often take shelter in IDP shelters in Jaramana or in Damascus City if
they have relatives there. However, in areas that have recently come under the government’s
control, such as Ghouta, civilians have had to go through security screening processes in order to
be able to enter into Damascus City.
291. There is an expectation that there will be an influx of IDPs from Eastern Ghouta in Damascus
Province in the nearest future when the government regains control of even more areas as there
have already been quite a few IDPs travelling to Damascus from Ghouta.
292. IDPs displaced from Idlib (ب
دإ)
will often flee to Turkey and only rarely to Damascus.
Freedom of movement in Damascus Province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
293. There are checkpoints around Damascus City. Some checkpoints are fixed and some are mobile.
294. Whether certain groups face difficulties when moving around in Damascus Province, it can
generally be said that certain groups are more likely to face problems than others. For instance,
individuals from activist families, anyone who is on a wanted list or anyone who is in the military
service age will face more difficulties than others. People originating from certain areas, e.g.
Darayya (
راد),
can also in some instances face difficulties when passing a checkpoint. HRW has
anecdotal information that Sunni men of a certain age will be stopped and asked questions more
often than Alawites or Christians.
295. HRW has not come across any information suggesting that unaccompanied women face particular
difficulties when passing checkpoints; on the contrary there is a tendency of women staying more
outside of their homes than previously and thus moving more around in the city and through
checkpoints.
Returnees
296. There have been reports of just over 10,000 returns from Lebanon. Some of these returns
happened through negotiated deals, such as the returns from Arsal (ل
ر:),
and others have
returned because of a loss of legal status in Lebanon. Some of the returnees from Lebanon ended
up in Idlib.
297. Following the negotiated deal in Arsal, which was negotiated by the Lebanese army, 5,000 Syrians
returned to Syria. HRW conducted interviews with many of the returnees, who expressed that
they decided to return because of the conditions that they were facing in Arsal, but they have not
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1929384_0072.png
returned to their community of origin.
239
This is a tendency that HRW picked up on with regards to
other returnees from Lebanon. Hezbollah has been active in negotiating deals for Syrians to return
including from the Qalamun Mountains (نو
& ا ل
). In one reported negotiation, returnees were
ensured that they would face no harm, they would be amnestied and would not be expected to
serve in the military and in addition to this that they were even allowed to hold small fire arms.
The actual outcome of this negotiation is not clear.
298. The source expects that Lebanon will expel a large number of Syrian refugees back to Syria next
year when the fighting is over. There have been mass expulsions of Syrians from Jordan.
299. Turkey has closed its borders and has conducted mass expulsions, which has been widely
documented. There are currently speculations that Turkey will utilize its recent takeover of Afrin
(ن
ر':)
to create an area that will serve as a hub for refugees previously residing in Turkey.
Returnees via Damascus International Airport
300. With regards to returns through Damascus airport, it should be noted that most Syrians returning
from host countries in the region use the land borders to return.
301. Returns from Europe are a trickle, not a flood. In the future, the source expects that returns from
Europe will be due to lack of integration in European host countries. There is very little
information on how returnees from Europe are treated upon return. However, from public
reporting the source knows that there may have been few cases of Syrians returning through the
airport, but it is not common practice, and HRW does not have corroborated information on how
they are treated by the authorities upon arrival. The source anticipates that broadly speaking
people, who have fled to Europe, particularly men, will be treated with suspicion in the event of
their return to Syria.
240
Consequences of illegal exit
302. It can generally be said that it is the regime’s perception that Syrians who have left the country
illegally are considered as traitors, and the president has on several occasions made statements
corroborating this view.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (10 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
303. Large parts of Yarmouk have come under government control, and the government has retaken
the areas where anti-government groups were operating in Eastern Ghouta. As a consequence,
For more information, the source referred to: Human Rights Watch,
Lebanon: Refugees in Border Zone at Risk –
Arsal Conditions Pressure Them to Return to Syria,
20 September 2017, available at:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/20/lebanon-refugees-border-zone-risk
[accessed 17 May 2018]
240
As an elaboration to the source’s statement, the source referred to this article: The Irish Times,
Arrests and torture
of Syrian refugees returning home reported – Evidence grows of systematic abuse of vast numbers of Syrian going back
from Europe,
17 March 2018, available at:
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/arrests-and-torture-
of-syrian-refugees-returning-home-reported-1.3429762
[accessed 17 May 2018]
239
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the anti-government fighters from Eastern Ghouta have now been pushed out of the area, many
to Idlib, and do not have the capacity to strike Damascus City with mortars from there; but car
bombings, improvised explosive devices, etc. are likely to continue.
304. The influx of IDPs in Damascus has increased concurrently with the government regaining control
of more areas in Eastern Ghouta.
Heiko Wimmen, International Crisis Group (ICG)
Beirut, 12 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
305. The security situation in Damascus City varies depending on an area’s proximity to actual front
lines. In Damascus City, mortar impacts are more prevalent in areas close to Eastern Ghouta
(Ghoutet
Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
), but the opposition has the ability to strike
further away.
306. Within the past two to three years, the general security situation in Damascus City has improved,
because there are less frontlines close to the city. However, as a consequence of the regime
offensive in Eastern Ghouta, the mortar fire on Damascus City has intensified.
307. Certain areas in Damascus City may be out of range of mortars from Eastern Ghouta. However,
there are certain areas within the range of mortars which you cannot avoid when living in the city,
e.g. the central part of the city. Furthermore, mortars are not very accurate.
308. Mortars are reportedly used by various opposition groups, e.g. Jaysh al-Islam (م2
4ا ش
) and
Faylaq al-Rahman (ن
ر ا ق& 3
), and the source assumes that neither of them is more competent
than the other when it comes to aiming and hitting accordingly.
309. The mortar attacks in Damascus City cannot be compared to the government’s bombardment of
rebel-held areas in terms of extent.
310. Areas close to the frontlines like Bab Touma (
و ب
) and the mainly Christian Qasaa (ع
ا
)
district can be reached by mortar fire from Eastern Ghouta. In the beginning of March 2018,
mortars landed in Qasaa, and people got killed. However, also areas far away from the frontlines,
e.g. areas like Mezzeh (ةز
ا)
and Muhajereen (
ن ر ) ا
), have been hit.
311. Currently, suicide attacks are not prevalent in Damascus City, even though there have been a few
attacks lately.
Security situation in Yarmouk
312. There is an Islamic State held pocket in the southern outskirts of Damascus. The Free Syrian Army
(FSA,
al-Jaysh as-Suri al-Hurr,
ر ا يرو ا ش ا)
and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS,
م ا ر ر 6 ھ
) also
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have a presence in the area. As late as January 2018, there was fighting between Islamic State and
Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham in the Yarmouk Camp (Mukhayyim
al-Yarmouk,
كو ر ا م $
).
313. On 12 March 2018, an evacuation deal was made with the government by one of the opposition
groups in Yarmouk. An evacuation deal usually consists of two options; the first option is to stay in
the area and enter some kind of reconciliation process, promising that they will not take up arms.
Then these people are supposedly deleted from the wanted lists. For unknown reasons, some may
however not be removed, or there is another list from another bureau that they are not deleted
from. If a person is male, he will be enlisted and sent to a war theatre that will be dangerous, and
he might be forced to be part of war crimes; unless he has money to buy himself out of dangerous
postings. The second option is usually that people will be shipped to Idlib (ب
دإ).
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus province
314. The source assumes that the fight for Eastern Ghouta will soon be over. Likewise, the regime will
eventually regain control of the southern outskirts of Damascus City.
315. The source considers that once rebels have lost territorial control of Eastern Ghouta, Yarmouk
(كو
ر ا)
and Hajar al-Aswad (دو
!ا ر ا),
groups like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham will turn to insurgency.
The number of attacks by use of improvised explosive devices (IED) and suicide vehicles (VBIED)
will probably go up again.
Freedom of movement in Damascus province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
316. Inside Damascus City, people can move and go wherever they want. Life appears to be normal. It is
possible to a certain degree to predict where mortars might hit.
Returnees
317. Before Syrians return to Damascus from abroad, they tend to find out if they are on a wanted list
or not. There are different channels to find out about that. However people who return cannot be
completely certain how they will be treated upon return.
Mercy Corps - Humanitarian Access Team (HAT)
Beirut, 23 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
318. Before the campaign in Eastern Ghouta (
ر ا ق د طو
) which started in February 2018, there
were very few cases of shelling, suicide attacks etc.
319. Since the campaign started in Eastern Ghouta, there has been an increase in shelling against
Damascus which is very unusual. Before that, the extent of mortar attacks from Ghouta was very
limited.
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320. Mortars are inaccurate, and they do not have a range of more than two to four kilometres. They
have hit near the Russian embassy, but also at market places, schools and other civilian areas have
been hit by the projectiles. There have been complaints from the bar industry about their
businesses in Bab Touma (
و ب
) being severely affected by mortar attacks as people are afraid to
go to bars in this area.
321. In total, about 11,000 people, including military personnel and civilians, have been killed in
Damascus City during the entire conflict.
322. The number of suicide attacks or car bombs inside Damascus City has been very low; the largest
suicide attack occurred in 2016 close to the Sayyida Zainab shrine (Maqam al-Sayyida Zainab,
م
ب ز ةد ا)
where sixty people were killed. There certainly have been a few suicide attacks and car
bombs in Damascus City since then with lower death tolls, for instance Palace of Justice bombing
and Midan police station bombing in 2017, but the Sayeda Zeinab bombing was the largest attack
with the highest death toll.
323. The source estimates that the total number of car bombs during the past seven years is 20-25.
There have also been a handful of assassination attempts in Damascus.
324. Apart from the recent intensive mortar attacks against the city within the past month, the security
situation in Damascus has been very stable.
325. There has been no insurgency from opposition groups in areas which have been recaptured by the
government. The assassinations and car bombs, which have been carried out in these areas, have
mostly been part of an internal fight among pro-government militia groups for economic interests.
Security situation in Yarmouk
326. South Damascus has been divided between three pockets: Qadam (مد
ا),
which is the western end
of south Damascus; the Yarmouk Camp (Mukhayyim
al-Yarmouk,
كو ر ا م $
) and Hajar al-Aswad
(دو
!ا ر ا),
which is controlled by Islamic State; and Yalda (اد& ), Babbila (2 ) and Beit Sahm (
ت
م
) (YBB), which is controlled by a collection of different armed groups.
327. Since Palestinian armed groups in South Damascus are only nominally part of the opposition, they
have a special relationship with the government via branch 235 under the Syrian military
intelligence directorate, the so called Palestine Branch (Farae Filastin,
ن ط &3 عر3).
There is a lot of
coordination between Palestinian groups and the government and most of the negotiations
between the government and opposition groups in south Damascus go through Palestinians.
328. The government has played Islamic State and opposition groups in south Damascus against each
other by supplying both sides with guns to fight each other. One year ago, the government
negotiated a reconciliation agreement in Qadam and YBB which, and unlike reconciliation
agreements in other places, did not imply evacuation from the area, but it was conditional in the
sense that the opposition groups should fight against Islamic State. The government would then,
as part of the deal, supply them with money and guns for that purpose.
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329. Two weeks ago, when opposition fighters in Qadam were evacuated to Idlib due to a reconciliation
agreement, Islamic State took over the area, which was not acceptable for the government.
330. Islamic State in the southern part of Damascus province is different than Islamic State in other
places in the sense that the people who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State in the Yarmouk-
area mainly are people, who came to the area from Quneitra (ةرط
ا)
thirty years ago after being
displaced from the Golan Heights (ن1و
ا 0ھ)
by Israel.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus province
331. The source anticipates that once the operation in Ghouta is finished in near future, the mortar
attacks will also stop. The source further expects that, within two months, there will be no areas
in Damascus suburbs controlled by opposition groups as the government will take full control of
Eastern Ghouta, defeat Islamic State and make reconciliation agreements with other armed
groups in south Damascus. The source does however not consider southern Damascus as an
opposition-held area because of the special cooperative relationships between the governing
Palestinian bodies in the area and the government.
332. The source assesses that, as soon as the operation in Eastern Ghouta is over, the government will
start a large operation against Islamic State in coordination with other opposition groups in YBB,
and, as soon as the Islamic State is defeated, the government will enter a reconciliation agreement
with these other opposition groups. This reconciliation agreement will probably be softer than
other reconciliation agreements in the sense that some of the fighters and their leaders will be
evacuated while others will be allowed to stay and join pro-government forces.
333. In terms of the impact of an operation against Islamic State on the security situation inside
Damascus City, Islamic State would probably start shelling southern part of the city, but their
capacity to cause severe damages would be limited, since they do not have the same weapons as
the armed opposition groups in areas like Eastern Ghouta. The source assesses that Islamic State
fighters in south Damascus will at the end be evacuated to somewhere else, conscripted by the
government forces or recruited by other groups.
334. Regarding the probability of Islamic State and other jihadist groups starting an insurgency with
suicide attacks and car bombs inside Damascus City once they are defeated in Damascus suburbs,
the source considers that insurgency activity in the future will be limited. However, the
government has previously proved to be very effective in recruiting remaining opposition fighters
in a recaptured area into the army or pro-regime militias once they have evacuated their leaders
and hard-line members of these groups to Idlib (ب
دإ)
or Aleppo (ب& ), and that is what the source
anticipates will happen in Damascus suburbs in the future. Additionally, the government’s security
apparatus is very strong, and the experience has showed that the security branches have strong
networks of informants everywhere in Syria who monitor the situation intensively and know what
is going on in all areas, including recently retaken areas.
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Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
335. Internally displaced persons (IDP) originating from Deir ez-Zor or other hotspots will have a
difficult time in accessing housing in Damascus City as IDPs will need to have an official approval
from the security service in order to rent an apartment.
Freedom of movement in Damascus province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
336. The purpose of installing checkpoints in Damascus City is two-folded: to ensure the security and to
catch people avoiding conscription, however conscription is currently the main purpose of
checkpoints. Almost every time someone is detained at a checkpoint, it is due to conscription. The
number of checkpoints in Damascus has been reduced with 75 pct. since 2015-2016, and most
checkpoints are close to frontlines. There have been instances of the National Defence Forces
(Quwat
ad-Difa’ al-Watani,
طو ا ع 3د ا تاو
) setting up illegal checkpoints at their own will.
337. Authorities at checkpoints do not pull the cars aside and check them as they did before, which is
due to the improved security situation.
338. There is a computer at each checkpoint with access to a list of wanted persons. The source has
heard that the list of wanted persons in Syria contains one and a half million names, including
those wanted for military service, criminals and political activists. This wanted list contains
information on which security service branch that has listed the individual as wanted. The air force
security branch does not share its wanted list with other branches of the security apparatus.
339. Concerning possible impact of one’s religious and ethnic background or place of origin on
treatment at checkpoints, the source considers that it is mainly one’s area of origin that will pose
an issue. There have been cases of people, particularly young men from certain areas considered
hotspots, who have faced problems and harassment at checkpoints. Other instances are if the
officer at a checkpoint has lost a family member in Deir ez-Zor (روز
ا ر د),
a person from this area
may receive a discriminatory treatment when approaching the checkpoint. This depends on the
individual officer at the checkpoint.
Returnees
340. People have to find out through their relatives whether they have an issue with the government,
for instance with regard to their military service, and they have to have the problem settled before
they return, otherwise they would face difficulties upon return.
341. Upon arrival in Syria, if a person has visa and stamps from Turkey in his or her passports, the
authorities would stop this person and ask questions about his/her stay abroad.
Returnees via land borders
342. The source’s information on this issue is based on anecdotal reports.
343. Syrians who have lived abroad for a long time usually use the Syrian-Lebanese land border to enter
Syria.
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344. How people are treated upon return may depend on the officer in charge at the border, similar to
the situation at checkpoints mentioned above.
Consequences of illegal exit
345. According to a law passed in 2016, those who have left Syria without passports and/or correct
stamps should obtain their passport through Syrian embassies. The goal of the new regulation
seems to be gaining money from people rather than penalizing them as a new passport costs 800
USD.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (18 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
346. The mortar shells into Damascus City have completely stopped, and the government has fully
retaken and reconciled both Eastern Ghouta and opposition-held south Damascus. There was one
recent car bomb in Damascus, but otherwise the city is almost completely calm.
347. The Government of Syria is launching a major offensive into Islamic State-held Yarmouk.
Currently, the fighting is extremely intense, but is limited to the neighbourhood itself. The
Government of Syria has made steady progress and will likely retake the area in the coming weeks.
REACH
Amman, 15 March 2018
About the source: One of REACH’s main activities in Syria has been to collect information about areas in
Syria which is hard to access, including besieged areas such as Yarmouk (
كو ر ا
) and Eastern Ghouta
(Ghoutet Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
). REACH collects both broad and specific information with
the overall goal to inform the humanitarian community. The organisation also ensures that the produced
information is disseminated to coordinating bodies working within the field of aid deliverance. REACH works
across several hubs in Syria, including Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq.
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
348. REACH’s coverage of the situation in Damascus City is less extensive compared to their coverage of
other areas in Syria.
349. According to media reports, shelling over Damascus has intensified since 18 February 2018 when
the operation in Eastern Ghouta started. Mortars have mostly struck eastern neighbourhoods of
Damascus, including Old Damascus (Dimasq al-Qadima,
د ا ق د)
and Bab Touma (
و ب
),
which are close to Eastern Ghouta. According to reports, the range of mortars is limited which is
the reason why for instance the western part of the city has not been hit. REACH does not have
information on the nature of the targets of these mortar attacks as it is difficult to know which
areas that are targeted. The attacks have reportedly led to a number of civilian casualties.
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1929384_0079.png
350. Jobar (ر
و
), which is an area in north-eastern side of Damascus City and part of Damascus
province, has been a sort of frontline between opposition groups and the government, because
the area is the outmost eastern point of the city and the outmost western point of Eastern
Ghouta. It means that active conflict has been continuous in the area. Satellite imagery analysis
shows that approximately 93 pct. of structures in Jobar have been moderately or severely
damaged, or completely destroyed. It is one of the most damaged areas that has been assessed by
REACH.
Security situation in Yarmouk
351. Yarmouk is one of the areas that have been covered by REACH’s activities. Yarmouk was originally,
and still is, a Palestinian refugee camp. The security situation in Yarmouk is very volatile and was
controlled by the group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Hay'at Tahrir
al-Sham (HTS,
م ا ر ر 6 ھ
), an Al-Qaeda affiliate. As of May 2018, the area has been retaken by
the government.
241
The area has been classified as besieged since before 2016, and freedom of
movement for civilians has been limited to Islamic State areas or adjacent armed opposition areas.
Previously, around one to ten pct. of people from Yarmouk could exit formally to get supplies in
government-controlled areas, but as of October 2017 for Yarmouk and November 2017 for other
areas, formal access points were closed and this could no longer occur.
352. When REACH had access to Yarmouk, there were sporadic clashes between parties to the conflict
which could last for three to four days, but within the last few months, the clashes have escalated
and have become more frequent. Additionally, as all formal routes were reportedly shut, residents
who used informal routes to move between communities reportedly faced the risk of gunfire at
times.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
353. Generally, some people from Barzah, Qaboun and Jobar were displaced into Eastern Ghouta and
live in very poor conditions as internally displaced persons (IDPs). With regards to Jobar, there was
a large displacement in March 2017, and some of the IDPs returned to Jobar in subsequent
months because of the harsh living conditions as IDPs in Ghouta and also due to a perceived
lessening of hostilities in Jobar. However, a majority of them left again in June 2017 due to the
escalation of the conflict. REACH’s data indicates that they did not return to Jobar again.
Freedom of movement in Damascus province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
354. In areas such as Qaboun (نو ) and Barzeh (ةزر ) in the north-eastern corner of Damascus City,
civilian movement and the movement of commercial and humanitarian vehicles and goods were
severely restricted until the areas were re-taken or truce agreements were reached between
parties to the conflict. In Barzeh, most restrictions were lifted in June and July. In Qaboun, –
REACH stopped covering the area in February 2018, but access restrictions were lifted
considerably in December 2017, and the situation remained stable in January 2018. Prior to
This statement about the situation in May 2018 was added by the source when it approved the meeting minutes
on 27 May 2018.
241
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December, residents had reportedly been unable to leave Qaboun for more than 2-3 hours at a
time. Between June and December 2017, only one to ten pct. of the population in Qaboun were
reportedly allowed to leave the area, often children and persons in critical medical conditions.
Although REACH has not covered the situation in Qaboun since January 2018, it is possible that the
situation remains unchanged in Qaboun with regard to restricted freedom of movement.
Freedom of movement in Yarmouk
355. Reports suggest that apart from a general fear of ISIL, freedom of movement inside Yarmouk and
Hajar al-Aswad has been restricted by strict rules which have been imposed on population in the
area by Islamic State, for instance strict rules for how women should be dressed when moving in
public space. REACH does not directly collect this information and cannot verify these reports.
Returnees
356. In areas assessed by REACH, most of those who return to their areas of origin in Syria are IDPs, not
returnees from abroad.
Returnees via land borders
357. There have been reports that some returnees from Jordan who initially fled because of their
political beliefs returned to non-state areas through land borders. REACH does not collect
information on this and does not have any evidence to verify these reports.
Syria Direct
Amman, 15 March 2018
About the source: Syria Direct is a non-profit journalism organization based in Amman, Jordan that produces
coverage of Syria while training young and aspiring Syrian and international journalists.
General security situation in Damascus Province
Security situation in Damascus City
358. [As of 15 March 2018] there is on-going shelling in Damascus City coming from Eastern Ghouta
(Ghoutet Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
). The shelling is happening on a consistent basis
and is typically increased correspondingly with the armed campaign of the Syrian regime in
Eastern Ghouta.
359. A lot of projectiles hit close to military barracks and the Russian embassy. However, the shelling
does not seem to be aimed that well, since civilians are also hit on a frequent basis. During the first
months of 2018, the source estimates that dozens of civilians have been killed from shelling in
Damascus City.
360. One of the reasons why civilians are hit might be because the weapons used are not the most
advanced kind of weapons in terms of technology.
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1929384_0081.png
361. [As of 15 March 2018], the area most subjected to shelling in Damascus City is Jaramana (
ر
)
but almost every part of Damascus is hit. However, because Damascus is a big city there are areas
that have not been hit, and there are areas in the southern part of the city that the armed
opposition in Eastern Ghouta has not been able to hit by shelling.
362. Compared to 2016 where suicide attacks were more frequent, the recent months have been quiet
in terms of suicide bombers in Damascus City. In 2017, there was a bombing at the Palace of
Justice (Qasr al-Adl,
لد ار
). Additionally, in October 2017, there was a bombing on a Damascus
police station that killed more than ten people.
242
363. In April 2018, a car bomb reportedly exploded in the Birzeh district of Damascus killing the driver
and injuring six others.
243
364. In 2018, both Israel and the United States have launched a series of strikes on Syrian government
and Iranian military installations in and around Damascus. The attacks resulted in casualties among
Syrian government, Iranian and other pro-government forces.
365. There is a general fear of armed radical Islamists among Damascenes, e.g. the Islamic State. The
government has spoken of terror-related cells having a presence inside Damascus City. The
bombing of the Palace of Justice is just one example, but it is not an isolated incident. People in
Damascus are frustrated about why there have been bombings in a city like Damascus which is so
secure and filled with so many checkpoints; especially in a place like the Palace of Justice.
366. About a week after the bombing of the Palace of Justice, a car bomb went off near Qaboun (نو
ا).
Nobody claimed responsibility for that car bomb.
367. While assassinations and car bombings against government officials and buildings have been
conducted inside Damascus City, the rate of such attacks has generally decreased since 2015-16.
According to the source, there are not really any assassinations or car bombings today.
Security situation in Yarmouk
368. The Yarmouk Camp (كو
ر ا م $
) is one of the most difficult areas in Syria for the source to cover
because of the complexity in terms of actors and areas of control.
The source referred to this article about the mentioned bombing on a Damascus police station: Aljazeera,
Deadly
bombing hits Damascus police station,
3 October 2017, available at:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/coordinated-bombing-strikes-syria-damascus-171002131512968.html
[accessed 28 May 2018]
243
242
The source referred to this article about the mentioned car bomb that exploded in the Birzeh district of Damascus:
Arabic Sputnik,
ق د ةزر ط
3 ' ةو : ر ' ا ءار ن ر$آ
6
إو د ل
, 6 March 2018,
available at:
https://arabic.sputniknews.com/arab_world/201804061031377416-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%A9-
%D8%B9%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A9-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%81%D8%A9-%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%84-
%D8%A5%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA/
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369. The Yamouk Camp is twice-encircled. Government forces have encircled the camp, and within this
encirclement, the Islamic State has encircled civilians and other armed actors inside the camp.
There are two main armed groups that control the Yarmouk Camp. By far, the largest armed
opposition group is the Islamic State, followed by Jabhat al-Nusra also known as Hay'at Tahrir al-
Sham (HTS,
م ا ر ر 6 ھ
) that controls a small part of the camp, i.e. about one square kilometre.
370. There have previously been Palestinian factions inside the Yarmouk Camp that never got along
with either Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham or the Islamic Sate as they were rumoured to be pro-
government. However, these Palestinian groups no longer have a presence in the Yarmouk Camp
as a direct consequence of the Islamic State’s presence in the area.
371. In spite of the besiegement, students from the Yarmouk Camp used to be able to temporarily
leave the camp for the neighbouring towns of Yalda (اد& ) and Babbila (2 ) in order to attend
exams. The Islamic State is now severely restricting all movement in and out of the camp and has
instead enforced its own curriculum on students. As of March 15, 2018, the few students who
were able to leave the camp to attend schools faced harassment and the threat of arbitrary arrest
by Islamic State members. Because of the besiegement of the Yarmouk Camp, there was a
government-sponsored evacuation process in the Qadam-neighbourhood (
مد ا
) in the
beginning of March 2018 where more than 1,000 fighters, their families and civilians were
evacuated. The evacuated fighters primarily came from the opposition group called Ajnad al-Sham
(م
ا د أ).
372. The Qadam-neighbourhood is significant because it is the gateway between the army-controlled
and the Islamic State-controlled territory in south Damascus. Evacuation of the Ajnad al-Sham
fighters from this area corresponds with rumours about an impending government operation
against Islamic State held territory that the source has recently heard about.
373. The source estimated that the number of civilian Palestinians living in the Yarmouk Camp is around
3,000-5,000. The source assumes that these people will probably be failed by both the
government and the Islamic State in the event of clashes between the two sides. For instance, the
government had just given civilians 48 hours to get out of the camp, before the government would
block the entrance. There were rumours that the Islamic State was preventing people from leaving
the camp because they use civilians as human shields in the event of a government-lead assault on
the camp. At the same time, there were also rumours that the government would ask the people
who were leaving the camp to go back and join the government in its fight against the Islamic
State.
374. During the first two months of 2018, Islamic State leaders have been paying bribes to regime
forces to be allowed to leave the Yarmouk Camp for the north-western part of the country. This is
similar to the way that Islamic State has reacted in other areas, where there have been reports
about Islamic State leaders ensuring safe passage from an area before any armed confrontation
with government forces.
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Freedom of movement in Damascus Province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
375. There are fixed and mobile checkpoints in Damascus City. Checkpoints run by different branches of
regime security agencies are present across Damascus City and at the entrances of the city. The
amount of checkpoints slows down the daily movement of people and people are spending some
time standing in line at the checkpoints.
376. The amount of checkpoints in Damascus City fluctuates. In 2015-16 the amount of checkpoints
were significantly higher than in the beginning of 2018. In addition, previously the checkpoint
personnel conducted more thorough car searches which severely slowed down the movement of
traffic in Damascus.
377. At checkpoints, cars are searched for weapons and bombs, and the identity of the passengers is
checked to see if they are on any of the regime’s wanted lists. The checkpoints have computers, so
they can check people’s names against the wanted lists electronically. In addition, the checkpoints
have wanted lists printed on paper. So if the computers are not working, the personnel can still
run checks against the lists.
378. Also, ID-cards of passengers travelling with minibuses, a common mode of public transportation in
Damascus, are checked at the checkpoints. If one of the passengers in the minibus was listed on
one of the wanted lists, it could slow down the entire bus. A bus could be held up for one or two
hours while the checkpoint officer is talking to the person who is listed as wanted.
379. The most intense security checks are at the entrance to the city. For the most part, civilians can
travel within Damascus relatively easily, certainly compared to a few years ago. At the entrance to
the city, checkpoints are quite extensive—as mentioned previously—and checkpoint guards have
recently been allegedly exacting large bribes from civilians at these crossings into the city.
380. Some people are searched more thoroughly than others. If people are from opposition-held areas,
they might be more carefully searched. The same goes for people with a family name (kunya,
-
)
similar to the family name of people wanted by the regime. In such cases, sometimes people are
held up at a checkpoint for hours in order for the security personnel to search them. There are
also instances of people being held up because they have a family member that is wanted by the
regime. The source referenced a case where a person had experienced arrest and torture three
times due to his family connections until finally deciding to leave the country.
381. Unaccompanied women are not treated differently than men because of their gender. However,
fewer women than men have been arrested at checkpoints. The reason why fewer women have
been arrested is because fewer women took part in the demonstrations at the beginning of the
conflict in 2011, so not as many women are listed on the wanted lists. However, there have been
cases of women being arrested at checkpoints in order to put pressure on family members who
are or are suspected of being affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA,
al-Jaysh as-Suri al-Hurr,
ر ا يرو ا ش ا),
political activists or media activists.
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382. The two most prominent security institutions running checkpoints in Damascus are the Fourth
Division (
ار ا ر' ا)
as well as the Air Force Intelligence (
و ا تار $ ا).
In addition, from the
beginning of 2017 and until the end of the first quarter of 2018, there has been an increase in the
number of pro-regime militias in Damascus City, particularly Iranian- and Afghan-backed militias.
Returnees
Returnees via Damascus International Airport
383. The procedures at Damascus International Airport are still regular airport procedures, and it is still
relatively easy to travel through the airport. People travelling through the airport go through
security and will be searched as in other airports.
384. There is a difference between people who left Syria before 2011 and people who left Syria after
2011 in terms of security checks. People who left Syria before 2011 are not met with the same
amount of suspicion when they return as compared to people who left after 2011. However, there
have been cases where well-known artists who left Syria before 2011, were making art in support
of the opposition while staying abroad, and did not know that the government had knowledge
about this. Upon return to Syria, they were arrested because of their activities abroad.
385. People who decide to return to Syria via the airport are most often very confident that they have
no outstanding issues with the government or they will make sure to clarify beforehand whether
they are considered a threat. If people are well-known opposition members or have taken part in
opposition activities like protests in 2011, it would not be wise of them to go back to Syria.
386. The source underlines that people can never be certain whether they are wanted by the regime or
not when travelling through the airport. The source knows people who have been travelling in and
out of the airport several times, and then all of the sudden, they have been arrested for just one
Facebook post that has been deemed to be an act of activism. The source also gives an example of
some people returning to Syria thinking that their file is clean, to realise upon return that their file
was in fact not clean. However, these cases are limited.
387. It is not uncommon for the Syrian Intelligence apparatus (al-Mukhabarat,
تار $ ا)
to follow up
with and investigate Syrians—especially men—who have recently returned to the country and to
Damascus specifically.
Consequences of illegal exit
388. The authorities present at the airport are able to see if someone has exited the country without
the proper paperwork and stamps. For instance passports issued abroad contain a special coding
that reveals if someone has left the country through official or unofficial routes.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
389. When the source approved the meeting minutes (25 May 2018), following updated information
was added regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
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390. After the Syrian government recaptured Eastern Ghouta in April 2017, shelling from Eastern
Ghouta onto the capital ceased. Opposition fighters surrendered and either settled their status
with the Syrian government or opted to leave for northern Syria. After the fighting in Eastern
Ghouta concluded, sporadic shelling on Damascus still continued from areas in south Damascus,
including the Yarmouk Camp. In the three days since the government’s recapture of south
Damascus in May 2018, there has been no mortar shelling on the capital. It remains to be seen if
the Syrian government can now ensure a more secure Damascus given that it controls the entire
capital city and surrounding areas for the first time since the start of the war.
391. There have, however, arisen a host of security-related challenges in the wake of the Syrian
government’s Damascus-area military advances, particularly as pertaining to the residents of these
post-reconciliation areas (e.g. Eastern Ghouta and south Damascus). Residents are largely
prevented at the present time from freely returning to Eastern Ghouta and south Damascus, and
there are reports of wide-scale looting on the part of pro-government forces. Also of concern,
dozens of civilians from these areas have been reportedly detained by the Syrian government in
recent weeks and face immediate military conscription despite assurances that they would not
face such conscription for at least six months after settling their status with the Syrian
government.
392. Massive challenges are also now arising as related to housing, land and property rights for civilians
from these recaptured areas, most notably through the recently announced Law 10.
393. Today, there are fewer checkpoints than compared to 2015 because the Syrian government has
now reclaimed all territory that was once under opposition control in the surrounding Damascus
suburbs. The Syrian government is currently attempting to ease restrictions on movement for
civilians; however, today there are still checkpoints that prevent civilians from entering certain
recently recaptured areas such as south Damascus and East Ghouta
394. After a violent, weeks-long military campaign that killed scores of fighters and civilians in the
Yarmouk Camp, the Syrian government reclaimed complete control over the Yarmouk camp in
May 2018. This marked the first time that the Syrian government controlled south Damascus and
the entirety of the greater Damascus area since the start of the war.
395. As of May 25, 2018, the Yarmouk Camp has been almost entirely emptied of its civilian residents,
and aid has not yet entered the camp. UNRWA has also not yet been able to enter the Yarmouk
Camp. In the first week after the government’s recapture of the Yarmouk Camp, government
security forces have entered the camp, and there have been accusations of looting. There are also
still reportedly corpses buried underneath the rubble in the Yarmouk Camp.
396. Fighters from Hay’at Tahrir a-Sham were cleared from the south Damascus area at the beginning
of May 2018 for Idlib province along with a number of their family members. It has also been
reported that as many as 900 Islamic State fighters were transported from the Yarmouk Camp to
Badia (
د ا
) (northern Suwayda province) while their family members were mostly transported to
northern Syria.
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397. Very few fighters opted to remain in south Damascus and reconcile their status with the Syrian
government. At most, perhaps 10-15 pct. of fighters elected to remain in south Damascus.
398. Prior to the Syrian government’s offensive on the Yarmouk Camp, approximately 3,000 people
resided in the camp. By the final days of the campaign, there were only a few hundred individuals
still in the camp as hundreds fled in the lead up to the fighting.
399. Today, the Syrian government is in complete control over the Yarmouk Camp, south Damascus and
the greater Damascus area. Mortar shells, including from south Damascus, have not fallen on
Damascus for almost a week—since the Syrian government announced complete control. This,
however, does not guarantee that the capital city is safe from future attacks given the still-present
threat of bombings carried out by local, terror-related and anti-government cells.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Damascus, 22 March 2018
General security situation in Damascus province
Security situation in Damascus City
400. With regard to the security situation, the situation in Damascus City should not be considered in
isolation. The current situation in the suburbs highly affects the security situation in Damascus City
and in the Yarmouk Camp (Mukhayyim
al-Yarmouk,
كو ر ا م $
). Damascus City is hit by various
types of rockets coming in from Eastern Ghouta (Ghoutet
Dimasq as-Sharqiyya,
ر ا ق د طو
),
and the Yarmouk camp is besieged by armed groups.
401. The security situation in Damascus City was quite good throughout most of 2017, but it
deteriorated in the first weeks of March 2018 as more and more mortars from Eastern Ghouta
have started coming in. However, mortar fire has only caused a few fatalities and some material
damage around Old Damascus (Dimasq
al-Qadima,
د ا ق د
), and compared to the number of
rockets that have fallen, there have been few casualties. Being hit by mortar fire is all a matter of
being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
402. As a consequence of the deterioration of the security situation in Damascus City during the first
weeks of March 2018, civilians are careful when they go to Old Damascus, for instance to Bab
Sharqi (
ر ب
) and Bab Touma (
و ب
), as the area is considered a high risk area. In other areas,
the daily life has not been affected.
403. The shelling on Damascus City hits randomly. The only reports about shelling in the media are
about civilians being hit.
404. During the hours between 9 AM and 2 PM, when a corridor for internally displaced persons (IDP)
coming out of Eastern Ghouta is open, there is much less shelling on Damascus City. Generally,
people in Damascus City do not go out at night due to the risk of shelling.
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405. There have been incidents of car bombs and suicide attacks inside Damascus City. However, there
have not been that many. The security is good and the situation inside Damascus City is relatively
safe with regard to these kinds of attacks because the Syrian security apparatus is working quite
well to prevent them.
Assessment of future security situation in Damascus province
406. The source assesses that the situation in Eastern Ghouta could go on for months or years. That is
what has been seen in Aleppo as well.
Internally displaced persons in Damascus City
407. More than 50,000 people in Eastern Ghouta have left their homes. However, the government
encourages people not to leave the area as there is a high pressure on shelters which the IDPs
have to stay in while they are screened with regard to security by the government. The source has
seen very few men crossing into Damascus City from Eastern Ghouta.
408. The Syrian authorities facilitate the exit of ordinary civilians from Eastern Ghouta, but the hard-
core fighters and a lot of young men will stay behind. This is quite clear when you look at the IDP
population in Damascus City: there are some young men among the IDPs from Eastern Ghouta but
most of them are still inside Eastern Ghouta.
409. IDPs are dispersed throughout Damascus City depending on availability of housing, their financial
means, as well as where they have friends and relatives in the city. In particular, a lot of IDPs live in
al-Midan (Hayy al-Maydan,
ناد ا
), Bab Musallah (ب
>&
), Kafr Sousah (
و ر'-)
and Mezzeh
(ةز
ا).
410. A lot of areas surrounding Damascus City have recently been re-taken by government troops,
which has led to a great number of IDPs moving into these areas.
Freedom of movement in Damascus Province
Freedom of movement in Damascus City
411. There are checkpoints across Damascus City and at the main entrances to the city. While the
number of checkpoints has decreased in some areas, new ones have popped up in other areas.
412. The checkpoints at the main entrances to Damascus City have computers with access to wanted
lists. People’s IDs are checked against these lists when they pass by these checkpoints.
413. At checkpoints, Syrian authorities are checking cars for explosives and checking the baggage of the
passengers, e.g. by opening the boot of the cars. They also check the IDs of people crossing the
checkpoints and in addition, they check if young men have completed their military service.
Civilians who are not in possession of their ID-cards and draft evaders will have a problem if they
try to cross a checkpoint. However, if people approaching a checkpoint are locals known by the
officers in charge at the checkpoint, or if they move together with their families, it is only their
baggage, which is checked.
Returnees
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414. Many Syrians have returned to Damascus City from abroad. Especially men at military age who
have now lived outside the country for more than four years are coming back because they can
now pay for exemption from military service. The source does not know the exact number of
returnees who have come back to Syria from abroad and therefor refers to UNHCR.
Updated information added to the meeting minutes
When the source approved the meeting minutes (10 May 2018), following updated information was added
regarding the current security situation in Damascus province:
415. Since the government took over Eastern Ghouta, Damascus neighbourhoods (particularly those in
eastern Damascus) have been calm and quiet in terms of artillery shells falling. A similar security
level has not been witnessed since 2013. The only vulnerable areas that remain unsecure are
those north of the Yarmouk Camp, namely the al-Midan area.
416. To date, government strikes on the Yarmouk Camp continues, and armed opposition groups inside
the camp still have some capabilities for striking back on Damascus City, which happened
yesterday when two small rockets hit a tower building in downtown Damascus; however, the
frequency of such strikes is very low (i.e. once in ten days).
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Annex B: Terms of Reference
1. The general security situation in Damascus Province
1.1. Prevalence of fighting and the extent and type of casualties
1.2. Prevalence of security incidents and the extent and type of casualties
1.3. Freedom of movement in Damascus Province, including impact of ethnic/religious background,
gender, economic situation and place of origin
1.4. Prevalence of internal displaced persons or refugees abroad returning to Damascus
1.5. Development of the general security situation in Damascus within the last year
1.6. Impact of security situation in Damascus suburbs (Riff
Dimashq)
on security situation in
Damascus
2.
Entry in Syria via Damascus International Airport
2.1. Entry procedures
2.2. Impact of ethnic/religious background, gender, economic situation, place of origin in Syria,
reason for exit and place of residence outside Syria on treatment upon arrival
2.3. Possible consequences of illegal exit
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