Turkish-backed SNA militants chop 94 trees in Syria’s Afrin
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkish-backed armed Syrian opposition factions, also known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), cut down 94 trees in the countryside of Afrin north of Aleppo, northwest Syria, Afrin Post website said on Tuesday.
Militants of Sultan Muhammad al-Fateh cut down 40 olive trees, which belong to Hassan Rashid, a resident of the village of Baadina, on Baadina-Demlio route in Rajo district, according to the website.
On March4, armed militants cut down 50 olive trees and four nut ones, which are owned by the forcibly displaced Muhammad Osman from the village of Saarinjak in Sharran district, near Nebi Huri ancient site.
The Afrin Post also confirmed that militants of Hamza Division cut 40 olive trees in Jindires district west of Afrin after their owner refused to give them firewood for free ten days ago.
Afrin and its countryside have been under the occupation of the Turkish forces and the SNA factions since March 2018 following the so-called “Olive Branch” military operation that was launched allegedly to push away the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) under the pretext of protecting “Turkish national security.”
The operation caused the displacement of about 300.000 of the original inhabitants of the Kurds of Afrin who have been taking shelter in 42 villages and five camps in Aleppo northern countryside, locally known as Shahba Region, since then.
After the occupation of Afrin, thousands of olive trees have been cut down by the SNA factions, according to press and human rights reports.