Turkish Aggression Destroys Archeological sites in the Northeast of Syria: DGAM

DAMASCUS, (ST)-  The archeological sites and hills in the northeast of Syria, mainly in Qamishli and Tal Abyad areas, are being exposed to a huge destruction because of the Turkish aggression on these areas.

These important archeological hills, which date back to thousands of years, have witnessed major archeological discoveries over the past decades by tens of foreign archeological missions that worked in Syria before the war, Dr. Mahmoud Hammoud , the Director-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), said in a statement to SANA on Thursday.

Hammoud, added that the Turkish aggression has caused damage to several archeological sites, including Halas and al-Fakheriya hills in Ras al-Ayn area and al-Sadd al-Abyad hill which date back to the modern stone age and which had been home to several consecutive civilizations.

 The DGAM’s director called on the international community, concerned international organizations, particularly UNESCO, academic figures and archeologists of the world to urge governments to pressure the Turkish regime to halt its aggression which threatens Syria’s cultural heritage.

The Turkish regime has previously targeted archeological sites in other areas in Afrin in the northern countryside of Aleppo and looted their antiquities.

Hammoud made it clear that the area the Turkish aggression is targeting contains more than 3000 archeological hills which are an integral part of the region’s history.

What the Turkish regime is doing is a war crime and a crime against humanity and tangible heritage, Hammoud said, holding the government of the Turkish regime responsible for these crimes.

Hamda Mustafa