Syrian government closes crossings with AANES-held areas
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, Syrian government forces prevented university students and patients, who were going from the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) held areas, to cross to the cities Aleppo, Latakia and Damascus.
“For days, I have been asking the possibility to cross because my wife suffers from cancer and needs to be treated in Damascus hospitals,” said Sattam al-Hamoud, 40, from the city of Tabqa.
“I do not know which way to select to reach Damascus, as all crossings are closed,” he added.
Until now, the reasons led the government to close the all three crossings between the government and the AANES-held areas are not known.
“The decision to close the crossings often made by the central government in Damascus, as the government members on the crossings do not know the reason,” a source of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in Raqqa, who preferred not to be named, said.
Since March 21, the government forces imposed restrictions on the trade and civilians’ move in the crossings with the AANES regions.
There are three main crossings that links between the Syrian government and the AANES-held areas, which are al-Tayha in Manbij, Tabqa and al-Ekeirshi in Raqqa.