Turkish-backed groups set ablaze to new fields in Syria’s Tel Tamr countryside

TEL TAMR, Syria (North Press) – Turkish-backed groups set fire to farmers’ crops in the countryside of Tel Tamr, north of Hasakah, and prevented firefighting teams from putting the fire out.

Local sources told North Press that Turkish-backed armed opposition groups set fire to farmers' fields in the villages of Qasimiya, Rehaniya, and Rashidiya near the town of Tel Tamr.

The sources added that Turkish forces and its affiliated armed opposition groups do not allow firefighting teams to approach the places still burning and located on the front lines between the armed opposition groups and Syrian government forces, targeting anyone who gets close with weapons.

Strong winds caused the fire to expand into the surrounding areas of Qasimiya, Rehaniya, and Rashidiya villages, amid fears that it would spread to civilians' homes.

A fire broke out in wheat and barley fields in the vicinity of the Russian base at the al-Mabaqer station, north of the town of Tel Tamr, on Tuesday. The fire brigade in the municipality of Tel Tamr intervened and put it out, without any movement from Russian forces.  

A local source in the town told North Press fires broke out in crops in al-Dardara village and reached the vicinity of the Russian base.

The source added that armed opposition groups stationed in the villages of Qasimiya and al-Arishah set fire to farmers' crops at about 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Salman Barudo, co-chair of the Economics and Agriculture Authority of the Autonomous Administration, told North Press earlier the fires burned more than nine thousand hectares of wheat and barley fields since the beginning of the harvest season at the end of May.