Afrin: Many archaeological sites were vandalized and looted by armed factions

The armed factions loyal to Turkey continue their operations to sabotage and bulldoze hills and archaeological sites in the city of Afrin and smuggle them to Turkey with the support of Turkish intelligence, which is the biggest beneficiary of these operations.

The city of Afrin is known for its richness of important archaeological sites dating back thousands of years.

According to statistics conducted by the Directorate of Antiquities in Afrin, there are many archaeological sites and hills that were bulldozed and excavation.

A large part of the archaeological hill of Ain Dara was destroyed as a result of the Turkish bombing during the “Olive Branch” operation, and the rest of its antiquities were stolen and smuggled to Turkey, especially the “basalt lion” statue that dates back to prehistoric times and discovered in 1955, “it was converted into a Turkish military point, which is forbidden to approach.”

The site of the Prophet Hori (Syros: in Greek) was also excavated and its antiquities were stolen after Turkish intelligence prevented the people from approaching the site for a year and a half under the pretext of restoration. It belongs to one of the sons of the Prophet David.

As for the archaeological site of Jindires hill, it has been excavated and turned into a Turkish military point, one of the important archaeological hills, which is forbidden to approach. It is located in the district of Jindires.

There are also many hills and other sites that have been subjected to excavations in the countryside of Afrin, such as (Tel Dodari, Tal Teranda, Tal Ali Eisha, Tal Zarafkeh and some important archaeological sites in the village of Albeiska).

The actions of the armed factions loyal to the Turkish occupation are not limited to acts of sabotage and theft of antiquities, but also include uprooting and cutting olive trees and forests, such as the Sheikh Muhammad and Qazqli forests in Jindires district and the forests overlooking Maidanki Lake.

*Pictures from the internet