The Assad regime’s security forces and their allied militias continue to conduct random arrests against civilians in the areas that have seen the conclusion of enforced settlement deals with guarantees and sponsorship by Russia.
Local activists said that the Assad regime forces and their allied militias on Wednesday raided civilian homes in the town of Madiyara in eastern Ghouta near Damascus and detained more than 40 civilians. The raids continued into the night, activists added.
In early September, Assad forces carried out the biggest arrests campaign in eastern Ghouta since they recaptured the Damascus suburbs in March. The arrests mainly targeted army deserters and peaceful dissident activists in the towns of Saqba, Hamouriyah, Douma, Misraba, Al-Marj, and Jisreen.
Assad regime forces also laid siege to the towns of Arbeen and Zamalka, sealing off all entrances to the town ahead of a large-scale arrests campaign. Regime forces also cut off all roads linking the towns of Zamalka, Irbeen, and Ayn Tarma, except for two roads with the aim of tightening its grip on the area.
Since it recaptured eastern Ghouta back in March, the Assad regime has divided the area into sectors and deployed dozens of checkpoints across the area. Regime forces also blocked many byways in the area to force vehicles to go through checkpoints and be subject to search and arrest. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
