Raqqa, Syria — Afrin’s iconic olive trees have been burning for more than a week, with the Afrin Residents’ Association accusing Turkish and Syrian opposition forces of deliberately setting the fires.
The association gathered in Raqqa, Rojava (northeastern Syria), on Thursday to protest the ongoing destruction and urged the international coalition to intervene. Nidal Ibrahim, a member of the association, told Zoom News that Turkey and its proxies are intentionally devastating Afrin’s vegetation. He called on the international coalition to stop these “savage” acts against the Afrin mountains’ nature.
Afrin is a Kurdish city and currently under the control of Turkish forces. In early 2018, the Turkish-allied forces captured the district, and since then, the city has been administered by the government of Turkey.
Protesters reported that while Kurdish residents are trying to contain the fires in one area, new blazes are being ignited elsewhere by opposition forces. The Afrin authorities have yet to take significant action to extinguish the fires.
Residents, holding olive branches and signs reading “Afrin is burning,” “No to Turkish invasion,” and “Olive trees will continue to stand as a symbol of peace,” condemned the destruction. “This is a coordinated effort to destroy the city’s vegetation and olive groves, but we will not abandon Afrin,” said resident Roshin Bakir.
The fires have swept through the olive trees in Afrin’s mountainous area, remaining uncontrolled as accusations fly against Turkish forces and their proxies. According to the Afrin Agricultural Committee, the region has at least 14 million olive trees, a critical source of livelihood and a symbol of peace for the community.
Reporting by Jihad Nabo, Zoom News reporter in Rojava.
