Reversal of Fortunes: Former Rebels Claim Syrian Military Housing

Military families of Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad are evicted from subsidized housing near Damascus to accommodate victorious former rebels and their families. This rapid transition marks a reversal of fortune in the ongoing conflict, impacting property rights and displaced citizens.

Families of the military officers who served under Syria's ousted leader Bashar al-Assad are being evicted from their subsidized housing in a compound outside Damascus. This move allows victorious former rebels and their families to occupy the area, according to residents and fighters.

The Muadamiyat al-Sham compound, which houses hundreds of people, was historically reserved for officers during Assad's rule. As the military undergoes restructuring around former rebel forces and Assad-era officers are demobilized, these evictions are not surprising. The rapid replacement highlights a sudden reversal of fortunes for supporters of each side in the conflict.

Some former military families living near the compound but not in the subsidized units are also moving out. A local administrator noted that around 200 requests for departure documents had been submitted. The handling of property rights for former Assad officers will be closely watched in a nation marred by displacement since the civil war's onset in 2011.

(With inputs from agencies.)