Local sources have documented a new violation consisting of the seizure of agricultural land owned by a Kurdish citizen in the Afrin region in northern Syria, the uprooting of approximately 300 olive trees from the land, and the excavation of the property for the purpose of selling its soil. The incident occurred in the village of Maska Tahtani, affiliated Jindires.
According to a video circulated on 28 February 2026, an individual appearing in the footage identifies the land as being owned by the Kurdish citizen Abdo Hanan, a resident of Maska Tahtani village. The speaker in the recording states that a person known as “Abu Fawaz” uprooted 300 olive trees from the land and commenced excavating it to remove the roots and sell its soil, while threatening the original owner with the use of a weapon, as indicated in the recording.
According to available information, “Abu Fawaz” is identified as a commander within the Jaysh al-Sharqiya faction, which had previously been affiliated with the Syrian National Army and supported by Turkey, prior to its integration into the formations of the new Syrian army.
The information further indicates that the aforementioned “Abu Fawaz” continues to seize the land despite the issuance of a judicial decision affirming the lawful ownership of the original owner, in clear disregard of judicial rulings, reflecting the absence of law enforcement and accountability in the area.
The uprooting of fruit-bearing trees, the destruction of agricultural land, and the sale of its soil constitute a form of deliberate damage to private property and result in long-term economic losses, particularly in a region that primarily relies on olive cultivation as a main source of income for its residents.
Since 2018, the Afrin region has witnessed a series of violations related to the seizure of private property belonging to Kurdish citizens, including the confiscation of agricultural lands, the imposition of levies, and the cutting of fruit-bearing trees, amid the multiplicity of armed actors and the weakness of accountability mechanisms.
