afrinpost– Exclusive
The Turkish forces and the affiliated SNA groups spare no means to commit crimes against humanity, nature, and heritage. From its efforts to erase the Kurdish identity of the Afrin region and enforce a policy of demographic change, to the theft of artifacts and treasures discovered through random excavations in archaeological hills, its objectives extend to trading in natural resources and stones, aiming to distort the region’s history.
In this context, our correspondent reports that the “Faylaq al-Sham” militia, under the supervision and orders of Turkish forces, has established a stone quarry on the mountain slopes between the villages of Iska and Shadera in the Sharan sub-district of Afrin. The stones are then transported to Turkish territory and shipped to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, generating substantial financial gains.
On September 21, 2020, afrinpost obtained exclusive photos revealing the extent of the destruction caused by the Turkish-affiliated “Faylaq Sham” militia in the Delik Cave, located on the slopes of Mount Lêlûn near the village of Iska in the Sharan sub-district. The destruction was justified under the pretext of opening stone quarries.
One pro-militia website stated that large stones are sourced from quarries in the northern countryside of Aleppo, cut, and transported to warehouses. Some of them are then shipped outside Syrian territory.
The Turkish exploitation of Afrin’s natural resources, including stone quarrying, not only perpetuates environmental devastation but also fuels illicit trade and undermines the cultural heritage of the region.
