Uyghur Armed Faction Seizes Chalets in Ras Shamra in Lattakia

With the collapse of the Assad regime and the disintegration of its security and military institutions, the Lattakia governorate has witnessed a wave of security chaos and looting of public property and government institutions. Various groups have also expropriated and seized property belonging to individuals close to the former regime, particularly those who fled the country.

Tourist resorts, especially those near the city, were not spared from this looting. Many properties faced attempts at theft and seizure, either by residents driven by economic hardship or by armed groups. When factions of the Deterrence of Aggression Operation” entered Lattakia, they put an end to such looting. However, this did not prevent the forcible takeover of certain properties, particularly those owned by fleeing officials and officers of Assad’s regime that had not been destroyed or damaged. These properties were repurposed as accommodation for armed factions that took control of the governorate following the fall of the regime and operated under the command of the Deterrence of Aggression operations room, led by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS). 

The Turkistan Islamic Party, an uyghur jihadi group, has seized several chalets in one of the most notable locations: the Ras Shamra resort.

Ras Shamra Resort

Ras Shamra Resort is 20 kilometres north of Lattakia city, strategically positioned on the road leading to the summer presidential palace. It was originally established by the Military Housing Establishment (MHE) in the early 1980s as a residential project for the Graduate Studies Association, which was headed by Rifaat Al-Assad, the brother of the late President Hafez Al-Assad. Following the dissolution of the association in 1984 after the conflict between  Hafez  and  Rifaat, the project was converted into a residential project  classified as a resort. It was managed by its owners through the occupants committee, which elects an administrative committee responsible for overseeing the resort.

Over the years, the resort expanded to around 300 chalets. Some are part of multi-storey buildings, each covering approximately 85 square metres, while others are entirely standalone units, with some almost twice the size of the apartment-style chalets.

During the 2000s, the resort witnessed significant growth, with property prices soaring due to its prime location and status as an upscale residential area. These factors attracted several prominent figures from the former regime, including Majd Al-Assad, the younger brother of ousted President Bashar Al-Assad, and his cousin Munzer Al-Assad, both of whom purchased multiple chalets in the resort despite rarely staying there.

The resort, which was affected by the war due to rising fuel costs that restricted access to it, became a refuge for wealthy displaced persons from Aleppo and its countryside. A well-furnished property could be rented for around USD 50 per day in summer.

Armed faction seizes chalets 

After the Deterrence of Aggression factions entered Lattakia in December, and due to the resort’s location at the northern entrance to the governorate capital, a commander in the Turkistan Islamic Party (an uyghur jihadi group), known as Abu Khalid Al-Turkmani, seized one of the largest chalets in the resort. This chalet belongs to businessman Muhaimen Abboud, who is well-known for his illicit economic activities in smuggling and his close ties with officers and officials in the Assad regime. The chalet consists of three floors, each exceeding 100 square metres, and is equipped for year-round living. It is situated slightly apart from other chalets and has a large adjacent space that was used as a car garage.

Abu KhalidAl-Turkmani took over five additional chalets that did not belong to fugitives or individuals wanted by the new administration. These chalets were chosen because they were well-furnished and suitable for long-term stays. In the initial days, affected property owners approached the situation cautiously, receiving assurances from the faction that their stay would not exceed ten days, supposedly to “protect the resort and secure the area until stability was restored.” However, this period has long since passed, yet the faction’s leaders and members continue to reside in the resort.

As the faction’s presence in the resort continues, strict security measures have been imposed, restricting freedom of movement. Specific entry and exit times have been enforced, even for property owners. 

Additional restrictions have also been implemented, such as banning the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages within the resort. Moreover, these measures have delayed routine maintenance work, which is typically carried out in March in preparation for the summer season.

These changes have caused concern among property owners, who fear that the prolonged occupation could lead to the permanent loss of their properties, particularly for those who have not yet come forward to claim them.

Amid continued uncertainty over the resort’s future, the Turkistan Islamic Party faction has given no indication of any intention to leave soon. The strict security measures imposed have altered the nature of the resort and negatively affected its investment appeal. This issue is not unique to Ras Shamra but is being repeated in several areas across Lattakia. However, what sets Ras Shamra apart is the specific character imposed by the faction and its security apparatus, which directly impacts the resort’s environment, rental activity, and the future of seasonal tourism, on which many property owners depend.