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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Sporadic press gangs for youth in Latakia city to join regime army: activists |
| 2016-05-19 |
| [EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] Security forces of the Syrian regime have arrested dozens of young people in the city of Latakia, to taking them to mandatory recruitment in the Syrian army, which forced many people to stay indoors, amid a state of prevailing terror in the city. Mohammed al-Sahili, correspondent of Media Network of Latakia reported that dozens of on-foot patrols, or the so-called flyer-barriers have wondered in streets of the city and arrested all males aged between 18 and 35 years, the number of detainees exceeded 100 in Tuesday since morning till evening. Al-Sahili added: "the city was in a state of panic because people who arrested were either queuing at bakeries or wondering in the market or sitting at cafes. Moreover, the fixed barriers forced young people to get off the buses and taxis and arrested them. Al-Sahili detailed that even those who have evidence postponing the service for university study or a copy of the family book showing that the person was an only-child did not work. All arrested young men were sent to the recruitment centers to be taken to the mandatory military service or a backup. Well informed sources reported to Zaman Al that some detainees were released after paying bribes to officers in the Recruitment centers or according to recommendation from senior army officers. Sources confirmed that advices were given to young men who were released to leave the country to avoid repeating the same experience with them their detention. Zaher, one of detainee young men mentioned that his father was able to pay one million Syrian pound to release him, he swore that he would leave the country in any way. A state of panic has occupied parents whom sons had not returned home. One of them Abo Amjad, from Salaiba neighbourhood, who started worrying because his only son had not returned from University. “I do not want to lose my only son in fighting with the Syrian regime, if he came back, I would hide him at home” said in panic. The sound of Om Maher’s cry was heard from outside the house saying: “bring me my son, he is ill, he cannot fight.” The Syrian regime had started similar campaign to collect youth for mandatory recruitment in different areas like jableh. Experts explained that there a continuous depletion of the manpower of the National Syrian Army over the period of 5 years, resulted in significant reduction in soldiers number. For example, according to Abo Ayham, the field commander for a military formation in the countryside of Latakia confirmed that dozens of soldiers were killed within 5 days of the battle of al-Hadada, and the same happens in different fronts, which gives an indicator to the amount of loss in manpower of the National army. “Arresting and mandatorily recruiting youth is expected, otherwise how would the regime compensate for all those losses in soldiers, we advise youth to hid at home or to come to the liberated areas to help them in departing the country. A recent report from the U.S ministry of defense revealed that almost 100 thousand members of the National Syrian Army were killed since the beginning of the Syrian revolution. |
| Posted by:Fred |