X Minority investigative team was able to conduct preliminary investigations into the parties still setting fire to the largest forests in the Eastern Mediterranean, which constitute the primary environmental protection wall in the Eastern Mediterranean region. These fires will have catastrophic effects on the region’s environment.
The investigative team found that several scenarios are working together to destroy the forests and mountainous areas, to cover up previous crimes, and also to divert and conceal investigations into crimes committed and still being committed by factions and groups affiliated with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in the Idlib region.
Apart from videos leaked on social media, our team was able to communicate with local residents living in the areas ravaged by fires. These residents lost their agricultural lands due to the fires. They requested that their names not be included in the reports, fearing retaliation from extremist groups affiliated with Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, which is part of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
They confirmed that the groups that carried out the forest burning crimes were from Idlib, which is adjacent to the forests.
E.D said: โThey know the details of the forests because of the war that was raging between the organization and the militias and forces loyal to Assad.โ
A.M said: โMinister of Interior Anas al-Khattab, a member of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, is trying, in cooperation with Marhaf Abu Qasra (Minister of Defense and a member of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham), to create a charade to divert suspicion away from Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, which is linked to the ministerโ.
Our team was able to view photos of known individuals in Idlib suspected of being behind the fires. The team also listened to recorded conversations in which threats were made to the residents of the area, giving them a choice between โevacuating or having the area burned downโ.
