Turkish-backed faction excavates archaeological site in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – The Turkish-backed Mu’tasim Division, a faction within the opposition Syrian National Army (SNA), has started excavating an archaeological site in Afrin countryside, northwestern Syria, a source said on Saturday.
Footages and photos North Press correspondent has sent shows a bulldozer digging a site near the Yazidi village of Qibar in the northeastern countryside of Afrin. The correspondent said the site is ancient and contains historical monuments.
According to exclusive sources, a bulldozer and members of the Mu’tasim Division were seen excavating near the Qibar Mount using digging equipment and a metal detector to search for artifacts, gold, and other metals.
The same site was previously subjected to excavation in 2019 and 2020, and the new digging began ten days ago.
Qibar is a Yazidi village which is a home to a Yazidi shrine called “Chel Khana”. Before Turkish forces occupy Afrin, Yazidi families used to visit the shrine for blessings. However, in 2020, it was subjected to desecration and destruction by the Turkish-backed SNA factions.
The Kurdish-majority region of Afrin has been occupied by Turkey and controlled by the SNA factions 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.”
There were 58 Yazidi villages in Afrin at the onset of the 20th century. Prior to 2011, there were nearly 60,000 Yazidis in Afrin with 22 villages being co-habited by other communities. However, following the occupation, Yazidis of Afrin have been a double target for extremist groups embracing Islamist ideology.