The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Clamping down on civilians | H_T_S searches for diesel in car fuel tanks at Deir Ballout crossing

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activists have reported seeing a long queues of cars and trucks at Deir Ballout-Atma crossing which is overseen by “Hayyat Tahrir Al-Sham” directly, searching for diesel in car tanks.

The members of the crossing make a thorough inspection of the diesel in the tanks of the cars and prevent cars from leaving the HTS-held areas if the amount of diesel was low in the reservoir in order to ensure that they will not fill from Afrin areas at a cheaper price.

Meanwhile, cars coming from Afrin were seized and fined if the tank was full.

In November, SOHR activists monitored long queues of cars and trucks at Deir Ballot-Atma crossing which is supervised by HTS directly.

According to reliable SOHR sources, the reason for the crowding was that HTS members searched and investigated vehicles coming from Afrin, and to confirm that they are free from gas and fuels.

HTS security services continue harassing civilians, especially those supervising the entry of fuels and gas to Idlib area after being absent from markets, and prevent the entry of large amounts for commercial purposes and only allow low amounts.

SOHR activists reported that HTS Security Forces prevented the entry of vehicles loaded with large amounts of gas cylinders and fuels through Al-Ghazawiyah crossing in Afrin, which is controlled by “Al-Sham Legion” and HTS, while the vehicles were heading towards Idlib from northern Aleppo countryside, and the vehicles were forced to return.

According to reliable SOHR sources, the allowance of entry of gas, benzene and diesel was limited to small amounts for usage of families, while merchants are prevented from importing large amounts and offering them in Idlib markets, which suffer complete absence of domestic gas and fuels.