Syrian infantrymen distance themselves from Assad in go back for promised amnesty

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Loads of former Syrian infantrymen on Saturday reported to the rustic’s new rulers for the primary time since Bashar Assad used to be ousted to respond to questions on whether or not they will were interested by crimes towards civilians in change for a promised amnesty and go back to civilian existence.The previous infantrymen trooped to what was once the pinnacle place of work in Damascus of Assad’s Baath celebration that had dominated Syria for 6 a long time. They had been met with interrogators, former insurgents who stormed Damascus on Dec. 8, and given a listing of questions and a registration quantity. They had been loose to go away. Some individuals of the defunct army and safety products and services ready out of doors the development instructed The Related Press that that they had joined Assad’s forces as it intended a solid per thirty days source of revenue and loose hospital therapy.The autumn of Assad took many by way of wonder as tens of hundreds of infantrymen and individuals of safety products and services failed to forestall the advancing insurgents. Now in keep watch over of the rustic, and Assad in exile in Russia, the brand new government are investigating atrocities by way of Assad’s forces, mass graves and an array of prisons run by way of the army, intelligence and safety businesses infamous for systematic torture, mass executions and brutal prerequisites.

Lt. Col. Walid Abd Rabbo, who works with the brand new Inside Ministry, stated the military has been dissolved and the meantime authorities has no longer made up our minds but on whether or not the ones “whose palms aren’t tainted in blood” can practice to enroll in the army once more. The brand new leaders have vowed to punish the ones answerable for crimes towards Syrians underneath Assad.

A number of places for the interrogation and registration of former infantrymen had been opened in different portions of Syria in fresh days.

Individuals of Bashar Assad’s military or a pro-government military, acquire to be registered with Syrian rebels as a part of an “identity and reconciliation procedure” in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Picture/Leo Correa)

Individuals of Bashar Assad’s military or a pro-government military, acquire to be registered with Syrian rebels as a part of an “identity and reconciliation procedure” in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Picture/Leo Correa)Learn Extra

“Nowadays I’m coming for the reconciliation and don’t know what’s going to occur subsequent,” stated Abdul-Rahman Ali, 43, who closing served within the northern town of Aleppo till it used to be captured by way of insurgents in early December.

“We won orders to go away the entirety and withdraw,” he stated. “I dropped my weapon and placed on civilian garments,” he stated, including that he walked 14 hours till he reached the central the town of Salamiyeh, from the place he took a bus to Damascus.Ali, who used to be making 700,000 kilos ($45) a month in Assad’s military, stated he would serve his nation once more. Within the development, males stood briefly traces in entrance of 4 rooms the place interrogators requested every a listing of questions about a paper. “I see feel sorry about of their eyes,” an interrogator instructed AP as he wondered a soldier who now works at a shawarma eating place within the Damascus suburb of Harasta. He spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he used to be no longer allowed to speak to media.

Individuals of Bashar Assad’s military, or a pro-government military, acquire to be registered with Syrian rebels as a part of an “identity and reconciliation procedure” in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Picture/Leo Correa)

Individuals of Bashar Assad’s military, or a pro-government military, acquire to be registered with Syrian rebels as a part of an “identity and reconciliation procedure” in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Picture/Leo Correa)Learn Extra

Individuals of Bashar Assad’s military or a pro-government military, acquire to be registered with Syrian rebels as a part of an “identity and reconciliation procedure” in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Picture/Leo Correa)

Individuals of Bashar Assad’s military or a pro-government military, acquire to be registered with Syrian rebels as a part of an “identity and reconciliation procedure” in Damascus, Syria, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Picture/Leo Correa)Learn Extra

The interrogator requested the soldier the place his rifle is and the person spoke back that he left it on the base the place he served. He then requested for and used to be passed the soldier’s army ID.“He has develop into a civilian,” the interrogator stated, including that the government will perform their very own investigation sooner than wondering the similar soldier once more inside of weeks to ensure there aren’t any adjustments within the solutions that he gave on Saturday.The interrogator stated after just about two hours that he had quizzed 20 infantrymen and the numbers are anticipated to extend within the coming days. ___Associated Press creator Albert Aji contributed to this document. ___Follow the AP’s Syria protection at

Author: OpenAI