The devastating economic conditions and soaring unemployment rates in the Syrian government-controlled areas are pushing many young men toward Turkey via areas held by the opposition in the northern countryside of Aleppo and those under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib.

These young men face several dangers on the journey between cities controlled by the government. Most of them are wanted for failing to join the compulsory military service in the Syrian government army. To avoid conscription or arrest, they head to the opposition-controlled areas, specifically those held by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions, allied with Turkey. They cross smuggling routes between the government areas and the FSA areas, or between the areas held by the Syrian Democratic Forces and the FSA areas.

Mohannad Darwish, a journalist who currently resides in Idlib, told Al-Monitor, “Several reasons drive these young men to embark on this dangerous journey. The first is the miserable economic situation in the Syrian regime area. The deployment of militias [affiliated with the regime], the spread of corruption and the squandering of state resources have caused an unbearable economic situation. The Syrian pound has plummeted and income per capita is almost nil. This pushed many, even those close to the regime, to flee in search of better living conditions.”

Darwish added, “The second reason is the youth’s fear of being drafted. The regime’s army has become a true graveyard for Syrian youth. The army forces carry out quasi-arrest operations and forcible recruitment for a period that may last up to 10 years. Many young Syrians end up killed in action or leave after 10 years without having secured any other job. This is not to mention the poor psychological state they suffer as a result of their experience. All these are sufficient reasons for any young man to think of evading military service, even Alawite young men known for their loyalty to the regime. Numerous [young Alawite men] died as a result of forced and oppressive recruitment by the regime authorities.”