“Suleiman Shah” faction tampers with Afrin’s archeological sites by ongoing random excavation

Turkish-backed factions continue to excavate and search for antiquities in various areas in rural Afrin city, northwest of Aleppo.

Reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory that militants of “Sultan Suleiman Shah” faction, known as “Al-Amshat”, have begun excavations in search for antiquities on the archaeological hill of Arnada, in the area of “Al-Sheikh Hadid” in western countryside of Afrin.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, excavations on the hill are taking place almost daily with heavy digging equipment in search of antiquities by Turkish-backed “Sultan Suleiman Shah” faction’s members.

Excavations and ongoing random searches for antiquities have caused damage and massive destruction to the hill.

On April 6, Syrian Observatory sources reported that bulldozers belonging to Turkish-backed factions started excavation and digging in the archaeological hill in “Arabu Arab Ushaghi” village of Maabatli township in Afrin countryside a week ago.

According to SOHR sources, Turkish-backed factions have cut down most of cypress and oak trees around the hill, as well as uprooting olive trees over 50 years of age.