Konflikten i Syrien

Syrian security forces continue a massive crackdown on looters and burglars who found an opportunity in making profits out of the devastated districts of northern Damascus after its liberation from ISIS last month.

Checkpoints have tripled in numbers outside the recently-liberated Yarmouk Refugee Camp where all vehicles leaving the area undergoing a strict security check to verify the identity of those leaving with objects.

Several looters were arrested while trying to leave with stolen objects which include washing machines, AC conditioners, TV devices and furniture.

The security forces also seized several stolen cars and motorcycles before calling their original owners and eventually handing it over to them.

According to a security source, most of the arrested looters are non-military personnel with a few of them work under the paramilitary National Defense Forces.

Kurdish YPG militants in Syria’s Manbij will be disarmed as part of a deal drawn up by the US and Turkey to clear the group from the area, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Antalya on Tuesday.

“How will they operate here, how will the tasks be distributed simultaneously: how will they manage? Who will be in charge? Of course we have a criteria, which is the population, demography, each city’s demography will be our criteria. Not after the YPG, the population and demography before the war starts, before the YPG comes to the area will be our criteria. All those will be discussed ahead to avoid any possible conflicts in the field,” Cavusoglu began.

“For sure weapons will be taken from the YPG,” he added.

The roadmap for Manbij was announced on Monday following a meeting between Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.