Turkish-backed armed faction cuts down trees in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – Groups affiliated with Hamza Division, one of the factions of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), cut down on Sunday trees in Afrin region, northwest Syria.
The Hamza Division cut down trees in al-Khalidiya forest in the southeast of the city of Afrin, a local source told North Press.
The division and its leader along with al-Amshat faction were targeted on August by the US Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for committing serious human rights abuses against those residing in Afrin region, particularly the Kurds.
A group of 12 individuals from Hamza Division cut down more than 80 forest trees in al-Khalidiya forest, the source said.
Cutting trees are coincided with the approach of winter, as various forests in Afrin and its countryside at this time of the year usually become the target of the factions with the aim of selling them in the markets, the source added.
Afrin has been under the occupation of the Turkish forces and their affiliated SNA since March 2018 following the so-called “Olive Branch” military operation to push away the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) under the pretext of protecting “Turkish national security.”
The operation caused the displacement of about 300,000 of the original inhabitants of the Kurds of Afrin who have been taking shelter in 42 villages and five camps in Aleppo northern countryside, locally known as Shahba region, since then.
After the occupation of Afrin, thousands of trees have been cut down by the SNA factions, according to press and human rights reports.
The source indicated that the leader of the group cutting trees in the area is called Abu al-Baraa al-Halabi who hails from the town of Anadan, 20 km to northwest of the city of Aleppo. He leads an entire battalion within Hamza Division.