SNA faction seizes 19 tons of olives in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, the Hamza Division of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) seized two trucks carrying olives belonging to residents of a village in the Afrin region, northwestern Syria, under the pretext of refusing to pay the imposed tax on olives.
A source from the Afrin Local Council stated that an armed group affiliated with the Hamza Division seized two trucks carrying 19 tons of olives belonging to locals from the village of Kafr Shil, north of the city of Afrin, while the trucks were heading to the olive presses.
The seizure of the trucks comes as part of a collective punishment by the Hamza Division against the people of Kafr Shil for their refusal to pay the imposed tax on olives. The faction claims that they provided protection throughout the season, the source added.
Seizing residents’ properties and cutting down their trees are frequent occurrences in Afrin due to the absence of a law that can effectively govern all factions.