Assad’s forces are continuing to arrest civilians from the towns of the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor with the aim of forcibly conscripting them, as well as on other security charges.
On Sunday, Enab Baladi’s correspondent in the eastern region reported that the campaign of arrests carried out by Assad’s forces, which has been ongoing for days, has impacted more than 20 civilians for different reasons.
The correspondent added that the reasons for the arrests ranged between forcible conscription campaigns and accusations of working with the opposition or dealing with the Islamic State (ISIS).
Today, the Deir ez-Zor Network said that Assad’s forces had arrested a number of civilians in the towns of Sabikhan and Boqruss east of Deir ez-Zor without saying the reasons for the arrests.
This comes two days after an incident in which 26 military defectors who had returned to their towns in the eastern countryside of the province as part of promises by Assad’s forces and the reconciliation committees were arrested. Assad’s forces broke their promises and sent them to an unknown site, according to the Furat Post Network.
These incidents coincided with displacements witnessed in the town of al-Sousa east of Deir ez-Zor, which has seen fighting between the SDF and ISIS amid air raids by International Coalition warplanes.
Assad’s forces reinforced their positions between Deir ez-Zor and Albu Kamal a few days ago and sent soldiers and equipment to the area, according to images published by the network.
Deir ez-Zor province is under the control of Assad’s forces on one side and the SDF on the other, as well as ISIS, which is continuing its defensive fight for its last pockets in the eastern countryside, amid continuous bombardment from coalition warplanes, which have led to the widespread displacement of civilians.
In August, the United Nations announced its concern regarding the displacement of thousands of civilians from the countryside areas.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
