Turkey’s SNA faction excavates archaeological site in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – A faction of the Turkish-backed armed opposition, aka as the Syrian National Army (SNA), has started excavating an archaeological site in Afrin region, northwestern Syria, local sources said on Thursday.
The sources told North Press that Sultan Suleiman Shah faction, also known as al-Amshat, continues excavating an archaeological site in the countryside of the town of Maabatli (Mabata), north of Afrin.
The excavations are taking place in the villages of Shitka and Mirkan in the town, in an agricultural land whose owner is Nazir Genco with the aim to search for antiquities.
The excavations are supervised by Malek al-Jassem Abu Sarraj, brother of Muhammad al-Jassem Abu Amsha, leader of al-Amshat, in partnership with another individual called Abu Ghazi, a security official at Maabatli.
In August 2023, the US Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned al-Amshat faction and its leader Abu Amshah for committing serious human rights abuses against those residing in Afrin region, particularly the Kurds.
Since gaining control of Afrin in March 2018, the Turkish-backed SNA factions have deliberately pursued a strategy of demographic change in the region, expanding their violations to include the excavation and destruction of hills and archaeological sites.
Afrin has been under the occupation of Turkey and the SNA factions since 2018 following a military operation dubbed “Olive Branch” against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) under the pretext of preserving Turkey’s 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.
In January, UNESCO and Syrian government called for an end to the violations on the archaeological sites in the Afrin region that have been done by Turkey and its affiliated SNA factions.