Syria fills 900 km of war-era trenches in Idlib to aid returns and revive farmland

Teams of the Syrian Emergency Ministry have filled and leveled more than 900 kilometers (560 miles) of war-era trenches and earthen barriers in the northwestern province of Idlib, the Emergency Minister said on Saturday.

Emergency and Disaster Management Minister Raed al-Saleh said the operation was aimed at reconnecting farmland, improving access for civilians and farmers, and supporting economic recovery in areas heavily affected by years of war.

The project is being carried out in coordination with local authorities across several regions, according to the ministry.

The trench-filling campaign falls under Presidential Decree No. 59 of 2026, issued by President Ahmad al-Sharaa in March, which established a government committee tasked with restoring infrastructure in war-damaged areas ahead of planned returns.

The committee includes several cabinet ministers and the governors of Aleppo, Hama, and Idlib provinces.

In this context, Emergency and Disaster Management teams began clearing rubble and war debris in the town of Ma’arat Harma in southern Idlib in April, part of broader efforts to support returning residents and facilitate the return of those forcibly displaced by the deposed regime.