Fears Rise With Arrests in Restive Syrian City

[frigidmagi]

NewYorkTimes

[quote]Syrian security forces arrested dozens of people on Monday in a new offensive, their largest foray into a central Syrian city since withdrawing last month, prompting residents to build barricades to block a more ambitious assault, residents said.

Since withdrawing with the military in June, the security forces have occasionally entered Hama, a city that still bears the scars of a ferocious government crackdown a generation ago. But Monday’s incursion appeared to be more extensive, though short-lived, and protesters vowed that they would stop any attempt to retake the city by force.

“People here are ready with rocks,â€