The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that, on Tuesday, a group of experts linked to the Turkish state arrived in the village of Jabal Hemam in the Manbij countryside under the protection of security forces affiliated with the Syrian interim government. They then moved toward the areas of al-Khafsa and the road to Jarablus, where they conducted inspections at archaeological sites.
SOHR also stated that on April 18 a group of around 250 armed individuals, together with Turkish intelligence elements and Turkish experts, went to the town of Tel Aran in eastern Aleppo, an area largely inhabited by Kurds. There, a security perimeter was established and shots were fired into the air to disperse civilians.
The statement added that these groups carried out excavations at archaeological sites using modern equipment. The work reportedly continued until the following day, during which numerous historical artifacts were uncovered.
It was also reported that some local residents were forced away from the area and that some individuals were subjected to insults. Members of the local population have called for an investigation into the incident, the identification and accountability of those responsible, and the protection of the archaeological sites.
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