Searching for antiquities | Turkish-backed factions continue excavating in old neighbourhoods in Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye)

Turkish-backed factions continue to carry out various types of violations within areas under their control, whether in the “Peace Spring” or Olive Branch” areas.

SOHR sources say that the factions are carrying out new excavations searching for antiquities in the neighbourhoods of al-Mahat, Al-Abra and churches in Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye) town in Hasakeh countryside, which are old neighbourhoods, under the pretext that they are searching for tunnels dug by the SDF before leaving the area.

Days ago, SOHR activists said that Ankara-backed factions continue excavating and searching for antiquities in various villages and towns in the Afrin area north-west of Aleppo, and in the midst of this. Reliable sources have informed SOHR that Turkish-backed factions are excavating “Tal al-Bir” located south of the village of Afraza in Al-Ma’abatli area in rural Afrin.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, Tal al-Bir has been continuously excavated in search of artifacts over the past months since Turkish forces, along with their proxy factions, took control of the city of Afrin in March 2018. According to Observatory sources, the hill has been subjected to sabotage as the factions used heavy excavators while searching for antiquities in the area.