A Syrian refugee, Mahmoud Hassan Al-Hassan, was shot and killed by Assad regime forces on Nov. 5 after he attempted to reclaim his family home in Saqarja, a village in the southern Homs countryside. Al-Hassan’s home, confiscated by Assad regime forces and Hezbollah militias, had been converted into a military outpost during his years of displacement. His death has ignited fears among Syrian refugees and exposed the ongoing dangers facing those returning to Syria from neighboring Lebanon.
According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), Al-Hassan, a former employee of the Homs Electricity Company, was forced to flee Syria in 2013 and seek safety in Lebanon. With the recent escalation in Lebanon and increased attacks from Israel, Al-Hassan, like many Syrian refugees, returned to Syria, hoping to find security. Instead, his attempt to recover his home ended in a tragic confrontation when Assad regime forces opened fire, killing him. SNHR condemned his killing as a violation of international human rights law and called for accountability.
Local activists report that Al-Hassan had discovered upon his return that members of the Assad regime and Hezbollah – both Syrians and Lebanese – had taken over his property. Al-Hassan pursued various avenues, including mediation efforts, to reclaim his home, but his requests were rejected by Hezbollah and regime officials who had effectively occupied the area.
This incident highlights a pattern of targeted abuse and property theft in regions controlled by Assad and occupied by foreign militias. Syrian activists and humanitarian groups have documented cases where properties abandoned by displaced Syrians have been seized by Iranian-backed militias, including Hezbollah, which has wielded significant influence in these areas. These groups and individuals, including Lebanese allies of the Assad regime, have reportedly been allowed to occupy homes and businesses of Syrian refugees, effectively stripping them of their rights and resources.
The Assad regime has been accused of giving preferential treatment to foreign militia members and their families, often at the expense of displaced Syrian civilians. These families are granted access to resources and housing, while Syrians returning to reclaim their homes face bureaucratic obstacles, intimidation, and, in cases like Al-Hassan’s, violent retribution.
Although the Assad regime has promoted “settlements” to encourage the return of Syrian refugees, SNHR reports that these agreements often act as traps, resulting in the detention of returnees. In the past month alone, the SNHR documented the arrests of at least 17 returnees, many of whom had fled Lebanon amid escalating violence.
The detentions, according to the report, stem from the regime’s conscription demands and accusations that returnees entered Syria illegally. Many detainees hail from the Idlib region, where the regime’s presence is limited, and face heightened risks of mistreatment and recruitment into the Syrian military. International organizations have warned that returning refugees are not safe in Syria, especially those fleeing Lebanon.
The SNHR reported that between Sept. 23 and Oct. 25, the regime detained 26 individuals returning from Lebanon, including one woman. One detainee reportedly died under torture, a testament to the inhumane conditions and lack of due process returnees face upon re-entering Syria. This pattern, rights groups argue, reveals the regime’s continuing authoritarian approach toward its own people, regardless of formal settlement processes meant to facilitate safe returns.
The Assad regime’s targeting of returnees and systematic seizure of their properties has drawn sharp criticism from humanitarian organizations, who argue these practices exacerbate an already dire refugee crisis. Many of the displaced who attempt to reclaim their homes face bureaucratic hurdles or violent threats, as their homes are reallocated to militias loyal to the regime. The SNHR stated that these systematic violations mirror the same oppression that originally forced many Syrians to flee.
Human rights advocates warn that until meaningful protections and accountability are implemented, Syrians who return to reclaim their homes will continue to face repression, intimidation, and potential harm. SNHR and local activists are calling on international organizations and governments to press the Assad regime to end these abuses, ensure safety for returnees, and guarantee that displaced Syrians are not victimized upon their return.
With Lebanon’s escalating instability, the situation for Syrian refugees remains bleak. Many face a dire choice: risk returning to Syria, where they may encounter violent retaliation and property confiscation, or remain in Lebanon, where economic and security conditions continue to deteriorate. Al-Hassan’s death is indicative of the immense challenges facing those attempting to reclaim their lives and homes in a country still mired in conflict and corruption.
