The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Looting, crackdown on civilians and disputes over stolen properties distribution: Afrin experiences almost complete security vacuum under the rule of Turkish-backed factions

Aleppo Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: factions of the “National Army” are practicing all types of violations with Turkey’s full consent, against the people of Afrin who stayed in the canton and refused to flee or against those who have been displaced and whose properties have been seized and looted. All of these violation have reflected in the deteriorating security situation in the city and countryside where clashes erupt almost daily among the factions in the wake of disputes over distribution of stolen properties belonging to civilians there.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights continues to monitor and track all of these violations, since Afrin canton has experienced many infighting among various Turkish-backed factions in the past few days. These clashes come as a part of disagreement among these factions over the share and distribution of stolen objects and houses belonging to the Kurds who have been forced to flee, and the factions’ attempts to force the remaining people to leave their areas.

In this context, an armed group of Al-Sham Corps opened fire on the vehicle of “Al-Nukhbah” faction’s commander, which is in control of several villages around Al-Nabi Hori citadel. The attack injured many members and they were taken to Afrin hospital. This incident followed dispute between the two factions over civilian properties and revenue-sharing after looting antiquities from the Grand Theater of the citadel.

Clashes also erupted between members of “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah” and a group of “Jaysh Al-Islam” after dispute over a house owned by a civilian from Ashiqibar village in Afrin countryside, inhabited by a displaced family from eastern Ghouta. Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah’ members expelled the displaced family in order to resettle another family of members in the faction, which triggered clashes between the two factions.

Similarly, clashes took place between two armed groups of Al-Hamzat in Al-Basutah town after dispute over seizure of residential house and other acts of smuggling tobacco, cattle and goods to and from regime-held areas, via Kimar-Barrad road in the south-eastern countryside of Afrin. The clashes left four members injured who were taken later to Afrin hospital.

Meanwhile, factions of the “National Army” are continuing to take railroad tracks apart, starting from the first station to the last station in Maydan Ekbis, in order to sell them as scrap in Azaz.