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DAMASCUS, Syria - Thousands of former Syrian soldiers affiliated with Bashar al-Assad's regime have surrendered to the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group that is in charge in Damascus, as part of a countrywide reconciliation process aimed at reintegrating Assad's forces into the new Syria.
A large number of former soldiers stepped on a portrait of Assad laid on the ground at the entrance of a settlement center in Damascus on Sunday, before handing over their weapons and other state-owned items.
Syrian authorities have granted amnesty to all former soldiers affiliated with the regime who have not engaged in crimes against humanity.
"We are all human beings, we all make mistakes," said Mahmoud Dandashi, a former Syrian soldier who handed over his weapon to the current Syrian authorities after serving more than 30 years in Assad's army.
"We are hoping the Hay'at [Tahrir al-Sham] and the authorities look at these cases with the eyes of generosity," Dandashi added.
The former soldiers hoped they would be granted new recruitment status under the transitional government to regain their livelihood.
"We were living in delusion. We want to live a decent life. After the fall [of the regime], we want to live. We are all soldiers. Why did we become soldiers? Because we wanted to live, to eat and drink," said Saeed Hamadi, another former soldier.
Syrian authorities have opened more than ten centers across the country where former soldiers will be given a temporary card while their cases are reviewed at local courts for possible crimes committed during the Baathist regime’s reign.
"There are crimes that have to be finalized at the court. There might be crimes against an individual or the public. The court will bear responsibility for such cases," said Abu Zahra, an officer at one of the surrender offices in Damascus.
"Anyone who has not got blood on his hands is eventually an Arab Syrian citizen. God willing, they are all our brothers," he added.
The transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has established a three-month caretaker government headed by Mohammed al-Bashir.
Syrian rebel groups led by the HTS seized control of Damascus on December 8, removing Assad from power after more than 13 years of civil war.
The rebel lightning attack that ended the decades-long rule of the Assad family concluded a war that left hundreds of thousands dead, created one of the biggest refugee crises of modern times, and reduced swathes of cities and towns across the country to rubble.
A large number of former soldiers stepped on a portrait of Assad laid on the ground at the entrance of a settlement center in Damascus on Sunday, before handing over their weapons and other state-owned items.
Syrian authorities have granted amnesty to all former soldiers affiliated with the regime who have not engaged in crimes against humanity.
"We are all human beings, we all make mistakes," said Mahmoud Dandashi, a former Syrian soldier who handed over his weapon to the current Syrian authorities after serving more than 30 years in Assad's army.
"We are hoping the Hay'at [Tahrir al-Sham] and the authorities look at these cases with the eyes of generosity," Dandashi added.
The former soldiers hoped they would be granted new recruitment status under the transitional government to regain their livelihood.
"We were living in delusion. We want to live a decent life. After the fall [of the regime], we want to live. We are all soldiers. Why did we become soldiers? Because we wanted to live, to eat and drink," said Saeed Hamadi, another former soldier.
Syrian authorities have opened more than ten centers across the country where former soldiers will be given a temporary card while their cases are reviewed at local courts for possible crimes committed during the Baathist regime’s reign.
"There are crimes that have to be finalized at the court. There might be crimes against an individual or the public. The court will bear responsibility for such cases," said Abu Zahra, an officer at one of the surrender offices in Damascus.
"Anyone who has not got blood on his hands is eventually an Arab Syrian citizen. God willing, they are all our brothers," he added.
The transitional government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has established a three-month caretaker government headed by Mohammed al-Bashir.
Syrian rebel groups led by the HTS seized control of Damascus on December 8, removing Assad from power after more than 13 years of civil war.
The rebel lightning attack that ended the decades-long rule of the Assad family concluded a war that left hundreds of thousands dead, created one of the biggest refugee crises of modern times, and reduced swathes of cities and towns across the country to rubble.
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