Syrians Returning to Tel Rifaat Face Destroyed Homes and Tunnels

Syrians Returning to Tel Rifaat Face Ruins and Hidden Tunnels

A Painful Homecoming

For the long-displaced residents of Tel Rifaat, Syria, returning home after nearly a decade was meant to be a moment of relief. Instead, they have been met with devastation—homes reduced to rubble, streets lined with destruction, and a town still bearing the deep scars of war.

Tel Rifaat, a key battleground in northern Syria, has been caught in the crossfire of multiple conflicts, most notably between Syrian Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed armed groups. Years of fighting, shifting control, and forced displacements have left the town in ruins.

A Town Caught in Cycles of War and Displacement

• 2016: Syrian Kurdish forces took control of Tel Rifaat, forcing many residents to flee.
• Afrin Crisis: When Turkish-backed forces seized Afrin, many displaced Kurdish residents fled to Tel Rifaat.
• December 2023: In a rapid offensive, Turkish-backed Syrian rebels took Tel Rifaat from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), once again shifting control.

Now, those who have returned to reclaim their homes are confronted with a new, unexpected discovery—an underground tunnel network beneath the town.

A Hidden Underground World

During the years of SDF control, a vast network of tunnels was built beneath homes, schools, and public buildings for military purposes. Local authorities say these tunnels have weakened the structures above, causing walls to crack and buildings to sit on unstable foundations.

Rebuilding efforts are made even harder by the town’s fragile infrastructure. Many returning families find their homes in complete disrepair:

• Doors hang off broken hinges.
• Walls bear the marks of war and neglect.
• Rooms have been stripped of essentials—wiring, plumbing, and even furniture.

Signs of hurried departures and past battles are everywhere: scattered debris, abandoned belongings, and makeshift barricades hastily taken down.

Barriers and Broken Infrastructure

On the outskirts of Tel Rifaat, a massive concrete wall—once built as a military barrier by the SDF—now cuts through the town, blocking access to farmland.

Basic services remain virtually non-functional:

• Water and electricity networks barely work.
• Public services are limited or nonexistent.

A Determined Effort to Rebuild

Despite the destruction, the people of Tel Rifaat remain resilient. Many are already working to clear the rubble and piece their lives back together.

Their return is not just about reclaiming lost homes—it’s about restoring a town that has been trapped in cycles of war for over a decade.

Now, the challenge remains: Can Tel Rifaat rebuild, or will it remain another casualty of Syria’s long and brutal conflict?

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