afrinpost-exclusive
According to a local source and circulating photos and videos on social media, large-scale fires broke out yesterday, Saturday, July 27, in the natural forest of the “Baafiya” mountains and its surroundings. The affected area lies between the villages of “Kosa-Panerak-Shingale” and “Meydana” in the Rajo sub-district.
Reportedly the fires destroyed significant portions of the forest and thousands of olive, grape, and fig trees, including 1,000 trees near the village of “Kosa” belonging to the brothers Hassan and Bakr Mustafa Khalid from the nearby village of “Gazeh-Meydana.”
Residents reported that fires had erupted three days prior and were extinguished through their efforts. However, the fires reignited yesterday on a larger scale and in multiple, widely separated spots. This suggests deliberate arson by militias of the “Syrian National Army” to cover up previous extensive tree cutting and to remove any remaining obstacles for extracting buried tree trunks with heavy machinery.
Efforts to extinguish the fires were minimal, with simple tools used by some villagers, and no response from Turkish authorities. Neither Turkey nor its Syrian militias made any attempts to address or extinguish the fires, leaving only modest efforts by the “Syrian Civil Defense” teams.
Residents have posted video appeals for help, calling for an end to the oppression, assistance in extinguishing the fires, and the preservation of the remaining forests and agricultural fields.
