20/06/2020

NORTH and EAST SYRIA: Ongoing intimidation campaign by Sultan Murad Division in countryside of Tal Tamr and Rish Ayno (Ras Al-Ayn)

RISH AYNO (RAS AL-AYN), Syria – In their ongoing intimidation campaign, fighters of the Sultan Murad Division, part of the Syrian National Army (SNA), a collection of militias (including several espousing Islamist ideologies) formed and funded by Turkey, arrested residents of the village of Nofaliyah al-Hejaj, south of Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ayn). The arrests came against the backdrop of an argument over villagers’ contacts with fire brigades to put out fires which broke out on their agricultural lands. The fires resulted in injuries when they reached the homes of some villages near the M4 international road. Three houses were severely damaged by the fires wounding four women with burns.

A source from the village residents stated that fighters of the Sultan Murad Division arrested entire families, including their children and women, belonging to the Haj-Taha on charges of loyalty to the Syrian regime. The source added that the fighters still surround the village of Nofaliyah al-Hejaj and that mediation to release and return the detainees were still continuing.

In a related context, on Thursday, other SNA-factions affiliated with the Turkish occupation raided the village of al-Debs, west of Tal Tamr, Khabur Valley, looted civilian homes and their agricultural crops, and burned the crops of civilians who refused to hand over property and crops.