ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Looted Kurdish belongings are legitimate spoils of war, according to papers allegedly issued by one of the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition groups garrisoning the Afrin town of Raju in northwestern Syria. 

A copy of one such order obtained by Rudaw says local authorities of Raju must “allow a truck driver carrying metal from inside Raju [to pass through its checkpoints] as they are the spoils of war achieved by battalion 9.”

It is not clear which group battalion 9 is referring to.

Although the authenticity of the document cannot be fully verified, it bears the stamp of ‘The Arab Republic of Syria – National Army – Raju Joint Force’ and is signed by Abu Udai, head of the group.

The document was valid between August 3 and 4. It is unclear how many such papers have been issued allowing people to move looted property out of Raju.

Transit document allegedly issued by Syrian opposition forces suggests looted property can be treated as legitimate spoils of war. Photo: Rudaw

An estimated 50 percent of Afrin’s former residents remain displaced following the Turkish-led incursion into the Kurdish canton. Operation Olive Branch began on January 20 and ended with the capture of Afrin city on March 18. 

Soon after the capture of the city, images began to emerge of Syrian opposition groups looting the homes and businesses of Kurdish residents. Ankara condemned the looting, but there are no reports of those responsible facing reprimand or punishment. 

According to local sources, Turkey and its Syrian proxies are operating a policy of demographic change in Afrin by renaming streets and public places, replacing Kurdish words and cultural references with Syrian opposition slogans.

Turkish-backed rebel groups are also committing serious human rights abuses against civilians, according to Amnesty International.

The human rights monitor found evidence of arbitrary detentions for ransom, enforced disappearances, property confiscations, and looting, mostly committed by Syrian groups armed and equipped by Ankara.

Displaced people have been prevented from returning to their homes, while those who manage to return often find their property occupied by rebel factions or by displaced Arab families from Eastern Ghouta and Homs, the report said.

The Syrian regime has repeatedly demanded Turkish forces withdraw from Afrin. 

Now that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has recaptured rebel strongholds around Damascus and Daraa – birthplace of the 2011 revolution – he has set his sights on reclaiming the last significant rebel holdouts in northern Syria, particularly Idlib, where Turkey operates command posts.