Turkish-Backed Sultan Murad Division Extorts Civilians in Syria’s Rish Ayno

RISH AYNO, North and East Syria — Armed factions affiliated with the Turkish-backed terrorist group Sultan Murad Division have erected new checkpoints across the western countryside of Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ain), where they are reportedly extorting local residents and confiscating personal property, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). 

The checkpoints—established in areas including al-Alia, Amiriya, Kherbet Banat, and Mabrouka—have become flashpoints of abuse. Fighters manning the posts are demanding informal payments from civilians attempting to pass through, while in some cases seizing valuables under threat of violence. 

These actions reflect a broader pattern of lawlessness by Turkish-backed terrorist militias operating in North and East Syria since Turkey’s October 2019 military invasion. The SOHR says the recent surge in extortion is likely tied to internal financial strain. Many fighters have reportedly gone unpaid for weeks, and a decline in profits from illicit border crossings has left some turning to the local population to make up the shortfall. 

Also read: Christian community in Rish Ayno dwindles after years of conflict and Turkish occupation 

“There is growing frustration among rank-and-file members over delayed salaries and mounting allegations of corruption among faction leaders,” the SOHR reported. “With little oversight or accountability, abuses against civilians continue unchecked.” 

The latest incidents come on the heels of broader warnings from international human rights groups. In a recent report, Human Rights Watch (HRW), accused Turkish-backed terrorist factions in North and East Syria of arbitrarily detaining civilians, extorting ransoms, and engaging in other forms of mistreatment—all with minimal restraint from Turkish authorities. 

Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ain), located in North and East Syria near the Turkish border, has been under the control of Turkish forces and allied Syrian terrorist militias since Operation Peace Spring in October 2019. The offensive, which forced tens of thousands of civilians from their homes, left a power vacuum filled by factions that human rights observers say have repeatedly violated international law.