Baladi News
The city of Tartus has witnessed protests against the Syrian regime and its President Bashar al-Assad in the past two days.
The protests were followed by arrest campaigns, by the regime forces in the city.
Baladi News correspondent in Latakia, Abdullah Muhammad, reported that a number of young men who are wanted for mandatory service, and members of the "National Defense" militias protested against the regime in Tartus and voiced their refusal to fight in ranks of the regime forces in Daraa and other regions where the regime is preparing to raid.
An eye witness said to Baladi News: "Dozens of young men who used to fight with the regime forces and others who are wanted for the mandatory service protested for the first time against the regime, and called on Assad to stop forcibly sending the young men to fight, and to send the sons of the officials instead."
"In yesterday's protest the security forces arrested 5 young men and led them to unknown destination" he added.
Activists reported earlier that leaflets were distributed in the coastal cities; on the leaflets there was the following message: "Mr. President: we paid our blood for you in order to stay on the chair. So we are asking you now to send the sons of your ministers and officials to protect you and your chair. We have no men in the coast."
It's worth noting that most of the regime's fighters and officers, and the the local militias loyal to them are form the cities of Latakia and Tartus.
