afrinpost-exclusive
Our correspondent reports that the Turkish-backed “Military Police” militia at the Shatt checkpoint, west of Azaz, arrested two civilians today: Shiyar Mohammed, 40, and his nephew Issa Mohammed, from the village of ‘Upila in Bulbul sub-district, Afrin.
Two days ago, the militia also arrested six civilians from Baadina, Afrin: Khalil Suleiman Rasho, 45; Ahmed Suleiman Rasho; Hussein Rashid Rasho; Manan Rashid Rash; Rashid Dawood Kanbar, 56; and Aref Mohammed. They reportedly confiscated Aref’s vehicle after forcing his family out of it.
The arrests occurred as displaced Afrin residents attempted to return to their homes after fleeing attacks by the “Syrian National Army” militias on the Al-Shahba area in northern Aleppo.
Additionally, Turkish-backed militias detained 30-year-old Armanj Hussein Balilko today while he was returning to Afrin as part of a convoy traveling between the village of Al-Ahdath and Tel Rifaat in northern Aleppo. His whereabouts remain unknown.
Meanwhile, a checkpoint controlled by the “Hamzat Division” militia is reportedly looting the belongings of returnees making the reverse migration from Al-Shahba back to Afrin.
In a related development, Turkish intelligence has established a WhatsApp group involving all mukhtars (village heads) from Afrin’s villages, towns, and cities, demanding they provide names of returning residents under threat of accountability.
