(Zaman Al Wasl)- Syrian regime launched this week a wide arrest campaign including the civil employees in the northeastern province of Hasaka, local activists said.
The regime campaign came as the Democratic Union Party threatened to destroy any militia that is not subordinate to it. The Party’s announcement was a response to previous regime attempts to recruit young men from the area to its militias which threaten the Democratic Union Party’s American supported project in the area.
Mahmoud al-Ahmad, an activist, said to Zaman al-Wasl that the military police subordinate to the regime stormed the Culture, Education, Agriculture, and Health directorates in Hasaka city in recent days. The military police arrested several employees, all of whom are young men who did not migrate from the country due to their employment obligations. The military police gave the excuse that the men are wanted for military reserve service.
Al-Ahmad explained that the recent campaign targeted employees, whose ages range between 18-42, came after asking these men to report to the Conscription Division Office subordinate to the regime forces in Hasaka.
Al-Ahmad pointed out that hundreds of employees in the Syrian company in Rmelan for oil were informed that they must join the reserve services.
The activist confirmed that state employees who distribute employee salaries said to employees that the Military Security Branches will send them lists with the names of all the employees wanted by the regime for reserve service, in areas outside direct regime control. The reference is to areas under the control of the Islamic State Forces and the Democratic Union Party. These employees are expected to sign up for the Fifth Legion- Storm Troopers formed with Russian sponsorship.
In a related context, local sources mentioned that some of the gypsum oil field employees have been reassigned to the 123 Regiment in Kawkab mountain as part of the reserve force conscription operations.
The sources said the regime is working secretly to recruit more youths to form a militia expected to be named “The Jazira and Euphrates Mobilization.” Some advocates calling for people to join this militia visited the areas of al-Shaddadah, al-Hawl, and Tell Hamis where they meet with some tribal leaders and figures connected to the Baath Party. They proposed for them to join this new formation where each member earns a monthly salary of 210 US Dollars.
These calls and secret activities were followed by storming and arrest campaigns executed by armed members of the Democratic Union Party. These operations included persons with large capital, tribal leaders, and public figures formerly attached to the Baath Party, in a bid to sabotage the regime project, according to sources.
The Democratic Union Party’s response to regime efforts, was announced by Juan Ibrahim, the General Commander of the Asayisha militia during an interview on the Ronahi channel, the Party’s media outlet. “The Syrian regime and its allies are planning to form a new force under the name of the Fifth Legion, but we will not allow this to happen,” said Ibrahim stressing, “And I will say it in Arabic, we will not ever allow any force or organization subordinate to the regime to form, whatever it may be a popular mobilization or National Defense, and we will defeat them without a doubt like the commandos.”
Confrontations have erupted several times between the regime militias and militias subordinate to the Democratic Union Party. The clashes led to dozens of killed and injured from both sides and civilians caught in the crossfire. The most violent confrontations were in August 2016 in Hasaka city, and in April 2016 in Qamishli city after the regime sought to recruit young men to bolster its military forces in the province. The confrontations ended with a Russian sponsored agreement including conditions that the regime will not arm any force formed by the Arab tribal residents of the province.
The Democratic Union Party military wing controls the largest parts of Hasaka province with the regime forces continuing to control security zones in the cities of Hasaka, al-Qamishli and the military units close to them. The Islamic State Forces control the city of Markada, its last stronghold in the province.
Comments About This Article
Please fill the fields below.