Residents in "Madayaa" in the countryside of Damascus warn against the use of "drone" aircraft to scout homes in preparation for theft

A widely circulated video has sparked a state of controversy and concern among social media activists and residents in the countryside of Damascus, after it showed unidentified drone aircraft approaching the windows and balconies of homes in the tourist mountainous area of "Madayaa", in a scene described by residents as "a consolidation of the state of security chaos".

According to footage captured by local residents, small drones were seen flying near residential units in the town of Madayaa, located in the northwestern countryside of Damascus near the Lebanese border, as if they were scouting whether those homes were occupied or vacant. These incidents coincided with the summer season, during which the area witnesses an influx of vacationers escaping the summer heat.

In a striking testimony, one of the women residing in the area expressed her terror at the repeated approach of these unauthorized aircraft, linking them to the occurrence of thefts. She said in the video: "We are civilians sitting in our homes, what is the justification for the presence of spying drones at our balconies and windows? It is clear that the goal is theft, and we demand the security authorities to put an end to the perpetrators and arrest them".

The woman confirmed that one of the homes in her building was robbed some time ago, which reinforced her and her neighbors' belief that these drones are used as a preliminary scouting tool to identify targets.

Madayaa was not the only targeted town, as the local news page "Your Guide in Damascus" reported similar cases of unidentified drone sightings in other areas of the countryside of Damascus such as Zabadani, Bloudan, Serghaya, and Ain Hur, noting that these phenomena are often followed by home burglaries.

On social media platforms, followers expressed their anger at what they described as "modern-style theft", demanding the relevant authorities to take urgent action. One wrote: "Theft in modern style.. where is the government?", while another sarcastically commented on the spread of unlicensed weapons saying: "Of course.. the whole people have drones and weapons", referring to the state of insecurity.

In light of the escalation of these incidents, residents of the affected areas are demanding that this dangerous phenomenon be taken seriously, and that the relevant security authorities take urgent action to arrest the perpetrators and put an end to these violations that threaten the safety and security of civilians and their properties.