Syria: US Forces and SDF Militants Steal Historical Artifacts in Raqqa

The US forces in collaboration with affiliated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militants are stealing and smuggling Syria’s historical artifacts in Raqqa.

The Arabic-language al-Khabour news website reported on Thursday that a convoy of SDF forces along with several US military vehicles arrived in the historical castle of Saffeyn in the Eastern parts of the town of al-Akirshi in Southeastern Raqqa, adding that they carried out drilling operations to discover artifacts.

The SDF has so far stolen a large number of historical artifacts in regions under their occupation in Eastern Euphrates to supply their financial resources.

Meantime, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that over 120 trucks carrying military and logistical equipment were sent by the US-led coalition from Northern Iraq to the SDF-occupied regions through Simalka corridor.

It added that over 1,220 trucks carrying military and logistical equipment were sent for the SDF in Eastern Syria after declaration of the end of the ISIL rule in Eastern Euphrates.

Relevant reports said on Monday that the terrorist groups had ruined, stolen and smuggled millions of antiques in Syria in the past 8 years.

Manager of Syria’s museum and historical monuments Mahmoud Hamoud told the Arabic-language website of Sputnik that the terrorists had stolen and smuggled at least one million pieces of antiques to regions outside the country, specially Turkey, Jordan and the occupied Palestine.

He added that at least 10,000 historical sites have been destroyed in the extensive excavation operations by the terrorist groups in Syria.

Hamoud also said that the occupying Turkish forces play an important role in the destruction and looting of antiques in different parts of the lands occupied by them, including Jandaris.