afrinpost-Exclusive
Armed members of the group led by ‘Abu Al-Khair,’ affiliated with the ‘Hamza/Hamzat Brigade’ militia, have stolen olives from fields located along the road to the village of Kurzeleh in the occupied Afrin region.
The ‘Abu Al-Khair’ group, comprised of approximately 15 armed individuals originally from Eastern Ghouta, were part of the ‘Jaish Al-Islam’ militia before being expelled from the area. They later joined the ranks of the ‘Hamzat Brigade’ and, with the start of the olive-picking season, have been attacking the fields of the original Kurdish inhabitants of Afrin, stealing their harvest.
“afrinpost” observed on October 1st, security forces from the checkpoint at Al-Qaws entrance to the city cutting olive trees near Al-Harsh and the grain center. They then transported the wood and sold it to an IDP from Idlib in al-Ashrafieh neighborhood.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Turkish-affiliated SNA militias have issued orders over the past month, preventing locals from picking olives and using the presses for work until they permit it. Additionally, they have imposed levies on the trees, the season, and the Olive oil presses.
