Turkish-backed SNA imposes royalties on travelers from NE to NW Syria
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – The Military Police faction, affiliated with Turkish-backed opposition factions, also known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), controlling the Awn al-Dadat crossing in the southern countryside of Jarablus in the east of Aleppo, imposed royalties on people coming from northeast Syria to areas in northwest Syria, exclusive sources revealed to North Press.
Awn al-Dadat is a crossing that links the areas of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) with those under the control of the SNA in Manbij countryside, northern Syria.
Militants of the faction forced about 62 people that crossed today, in addition to 135 others, mostly women and children, who entered on Monday from the Awn al-Dadat crossing to pay 500 Turkish Liras per person to the Military Police faction and the Shahba Gathering, affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front), the sources added.
They were detained in al-Ghandoura area and transported to the Military Police center in Jarablus for investigation. They demanded relatives of the detainees to pay 500 Turkish Liras per person in order to release them, the sources said.
According to the same sources, not only the arrivals suffer but also those who want to cross to areas run by the AANES through the Awn al-Dadat crossing, they are required to obtain documentations issued by local councils of the Interim Government, as well as two sponsors from residents of the SNA-held areas, and to pay 500 Turkish Lira in order to be allowed to access the AANES areas for a set duration.
Residents cross to the SNA-held areas in order to visit their families and relatives in areas in Aleppo northern countryside and Idlib as Eid al-Adha is approaching, while others, with leaves, head to Turkey.
As a result of these practices and harassments, many resort to smuggling routes by crossing the Sajur River in the northern countryside of Manbij despite the risks, according to the sources.