*** Deir Assafir was retaken by pro-government forces in May 2016 during a government/Hezbollah offensive that succeeded in capturing the entire southern sector of Eastern Ghouta. All of its citizens were displaced and it is currently occupied by government/Hezbollah forces. As no civilians remain, it has been removed from project monitoring efforts.***
Note: On 27 November 2016, the Syrian government sent a letter with surrender terms to twelve Eastern Ghouta communities, including Deir Assafir. It is unclear why Deir Assafir was included in this message because it was emptied of its citizens in early 2016.
ARCHIVED INFO:
Dates: Formerly besieged since mid-2013 along with the rest of Eastern Ghouta
Siege classification: Watchlist (was Tier 2 before capture)
Besieged by: Formerly the Syrian govt.
UN recognized siege?: No
Current population: 0 (as of 6/1/2016) - all the citizens were displaced during regime/Hezbollah capture in May 2016; pre-war population around 8,000
Civil control: Formerly Deir Assafir Local Council and civil police
Military control: Hezbollah and Syrian regime (Formerly Jaysh al-Islam and Al-Rahman Corps)
Siege-related deaths: Yes, detailed data unavailable
Aid: No
Active conflict: Yes, was captured by a government/Hezbollah offensive in March-May 2016
Additional Details: This area was considered a "breadbasket" for the rest of Eastern Ghouta.