The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

The Syrian-Iraqi border, west of the Euphrates | Regime security services arrest young men for mandatory conscription, forcing them to join pro-Iranian militias

SOHR sources from the Iranian-held areas in eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside at the western banks of the Euphrates River, say that the regime security services continue their security campaign in the main cities, AlbuKamal and Al-Mayadeen and their countryside, which has been ongoing for 10 days in order to take young people to mandatory conscription, where they set up temporary checkpoints and carry out raids and arrests.

According to the Syrian Observatory sources, the regime security services arrested about 105 young men during these days. SOHR sources added that young men are trying to hide in order not to join the regime’s army.

Sources said that this campaign is aimed at forcing young people to join pro-Iranian militias through these campaigns, as recruitment within these militias is better for them than joining the “army of the homeland” due to the financial intensives and privileges compared to the service in the regime’s army.

On February 20, SOHR sources said that the “military police” of the regime forces continues their military conscription campaign in eastern Damascus, by deploying temporary checkpoints on side and main roads, stopping passers-by and arresting those who did not perform mandatory conscription and those wanted for reserve military service.

According to Syrian Observatory sources, regime members have targeted queues outside bread bakeries in the areas of Saqba, Jisrin, Hamouria, Kafr Batna and Hazza, arresting 57 young men wanted for mandatory and reserve conscription, while waiting in bread lines.