afrinpost– Exclusive
Turkish-backed militias continue their operations of cutting olive trees and imposing levies on local farmers in the region of Afrin. The armed groups have reportedly cut around 69 olive trees and imposed levies on the grape leaf harvest season in the countryside of Afrin.
According to our correspondent, elements of the “Suqour al-Shamal\ Northern Hawks” militia have cut 55 olive trees along the road to Zariyah village in the Bulbul sub-district. These trees belong to Mr. Ahmed Oso, a local resident of the village.
Furthermore, 14 olive trees were also cut near Dargireh village in the Mobata sub-district, owned by Mr. Hamid Nasser.
afrinpost has learned that the “Hamza Division” and “Suleiman Shah Division” militias are imposing a levy of one US dollar on each grape leaf tree in the villages of Mobata sub-district and Basuta village in the central sub-district.
Our sources have also reported that since the beginning of June, militants from the “Hamza Division” have cut down 650 pomegranate trees owned by Mr. Mohammed Ali Hamkourou, a resident of Kurzêlê/Qurzihel village in the occupied countryside of Afrin.
The continued acts of tree cutting and imposition of levies by Turkish-backed militias have raised concerns among the local population and sparked outrage. These actions undermine the livelihoods of farmers and have detrimental effects on the agricultural sector in the region.
