Returning to Tel Refaat in Aleppo: Interview with a Displaced Person

In addition to the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham-led insurgent offensive against Syrian government forces’ positions that has led to the capture of Aleppo city, insurgents of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army have spearheaded another operation- ‘Dawn of Freedom’- on the north Aleppo countryside front against both the Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This operation has most notably led to the insurgent recapture of the town of Tel Refaat, which was opportunistically seized by the SDF in early 2016, resulting in the displacement of most of the town’s original inhabitants. Now, many of those who were displaced finally see a prospect of returning to their homes.

While one can be justifiably concerned about how the break from the ‘frozen conflict’ status quo will lead to lives being lost and homes being destroyed (e.g. the airstrikes on Aleppo city, which will almost certainly lead to large-scale displacement at this rate), it is also important to show empathy and understanding towards those who have already been displaced and have hope of returning home, and thus supported the recent insurgent operations.

One such displaced individual from Tel Refaat who now has the prospect of returning home is Mahmud al-Husayn. He headed a local council in north Aleppo countryside for the displaced from Tel Refaat. This interview was conducted today.