Bahjat Al-Atassi, a member of the Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) political committee, said that Syrian youth in regime-controlled areas are primarily focused on escaping compulsory military service. They do this either by going into hiding or by undertaking the perilous journey of seeking asylum, which could put their lives at risk.
In a press statement, Al-Atassi highlighted that Syrian youth, regardless of their backgrounds and beliefs, firmly reject joining Assad’s forces, viewing them as criminal militias that serve Bashar al-Assad and his war profiteers.
Al-Atassi emphasized that Syrian youth would rather die at sea or live in seclusion than join Assad’s forces. He pointed out that the Assad regime has intensified its raids, arrests, and the deployment of security checkpoints to force young men into compulsory military service and reinforce its weakened forces.
Local media reported that regime forces continue their arrest campaigns targeting young men evading military service in various regime-controlled areas. Activists noted that the regime arrested dozens in the Qazzaz and Babbila areas of Damascus, accusing them of dodging both mandatory and reserve military services. The detainees were transferred to Security Branch 235, known as “Palestine Branch.”
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
