afrinpost-exclusive
The olive groves in the Kurdish Afrin region have faced severe adversity since the Turkish control of the region in 2018. These fields have suffered from various forms of abuse, including tree cutting, uprooting, burning, and illegal wood trade. Furthermore, they have been repurposed for militia training grounds.
On August 10, 2024, Al Jazeera Syria shared a video on Facebook showing live-fire training by an opposition faction in Afrin. While the intent was to showcase the faction’s combat readiness, the footage inadvertently highlighted the severe damage inflicted on the olive fields owned by Afrin’s Kurdish residents. The use of ammunition and the setting up of barricades in these fields result in significant harm.
This training comes in the wake of numerous fires that have ravaged Afrin’s forests and olive groves, destroying large numbers of trees. In July alone, the Syrian Civil Defense reported 55 fires, mostly within Afrin. Agricultural fields are ill-suited for live-fire exercises due to the high risks they pose to both the crops and surrounding residential areas.
