Killing of Turkish-backed opposition member puts Syria’s Afrin on alert
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, Jindires district in the countryside of the city of Afrin, in north of Aleppo governorate, witnessed alert by members of the Turkish-backed Jaysh al-Sharqiya faction following the killing of one of its members a day before.
The member of the faction was killed by bullets of Military Police faction [another Syrian opposition faction affiliated with the Turkish forces] during protests waged on Friday at night against electricity company in the district.
An exclusive source told North Press that members of Jaysh al-Sharqiya blocked roads with wheels following the killing of Abu Khadija Deri, who died of his injuries during the protests in Jindires.
Members of the faction and IDPs from the eastern part of Syria blocked routes and set wheels on fire during the ceremonies of mourning of Deri amidst security alert by the Military Police, according to the source.
Bullets of the Military Police wounded an IDP from Deir ez-Zor and the member of Jaysh al-Sharqiya, when protesters stormed the building of Jindires Local Council, according to the same source.
On March 22, the electricity company raised the price of each 100 KW of power for household consumption from 185 to 245 Turkish liras, and each kilowatt of the industrial power was raised from 3 to 3.20 Turkish liras.
In early January, cities and towns in east of Aleppo witnessed large-scale public protests against Turkey and its affiliated councils following a decision to raise the electricity price in these areas.
In 2018, the local council of Azaz authorized the private Turkish company, AK Energy, to provide the city of Azaz and its countryside with electricity by laying high-voltage cables through Bab al-Salama border crossing in the Sejo area, north of the city.
Afrin and the surrounding countryside have been under the control of Turkey and its affiliated SNA since 2018. They have been running cities and town in east of Aleppo including Azaz, al-Bab and Jarablus since 2012.