Turkish-backed faction cuts down olive trees in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – The Turkish-backed Sham Legion cut down, on Tuesday, more than 100 olive trees owned by residents of villages affiliated with Sherawa district in the countryside of Afrin, north of Aleppo.
Militants of the faction cut down 50 olive trees in the village of Basofan that are owned by Zakyya Merzo, a resident of the village, a local source told North Press.
“The militants of the faction also cut down 75 olive trees in the village of Fafertin that are owned by Khalil Nasotka, a resident of the village,” the source added.
The Turkish-backed armed factions cut down olive trees and turn them into firewood to sell them in local markets of Afrin or export them to areas held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front).
The city of Afrin and its villages, north of Aleppo, have been controlled by Turkish forces and the affiliated factions since March 2018.
Since then, the region has been witnessing ongoing security chaos accompanied by infighting among militants of the Turkish-backed factions, arrests, and kidnappings amid the factions’ disability to settle the security and spread safety.