DAMASCUS, Syria. Hundreds of former Syrian soldiers gathered in Damascus on Saturday to face questioning by the country’s new leaders following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. This process is part of an initiative promising amnesty and reintegration into civilian life for soldiers not involved in crimes against civilians.
The soldiers reported to what was formerly the headquarters of Assad’s ruling Baath Party, a regime that had governed Syria for six decades. Upon arrival, they were met by interrogators—former insurgents who seized Damascus on December 8. Each soldier received a registration number and a series of questions but was allowed to leave afterward.
Some of the former soldiers waiting outside the building spoke to The Associated Press, revealing why they had joined Assad’s forces. “It meant a stable monthly income and free medical care,” said one soldier, reflecting on the economic realities under the former regime.
The swift fall of Assad’s government caught many off guard, as tens of thousands of soldiers and security personnel failed to halt the insurgents’ advance. Assad is now in exile in Russia, while Syria’s new authorities are investigating atrocities committed by his forces, including the discovery of mass graves and reports of systematic torture, mass executions, and brutal conditions in military and intelligence-run prisons.
Lieutenant Colonel Walid Abd Rabbo, a member of the new Interior Ministry, announced that the Syrian army has been officially dissolved. He clarified that the interim government has yet to decide whether individuals “whose hands are not tainted in blood” would be allowed to join the restructured military. “The new leadership has committed to holding those responsible for crimes against Syrians under Assad accountable,” he added.
Interrogation and registration centers for former soldiers have been established across Syria in recent days.
Among those seeking reconciliation was Abdul-Rahman Ali, 43, who last served in Aleppo before it fell to insurgents earlier this month. “We received orders to leave everything and withdraw,” Ali recounted. “I dropped my weapon and put on civilian clothes.” He shared his arduous journey to Damascus, which included walking for 14 hours to the central town of Salamiyeh before boarding a bus. Ali, who earned 700,000 Syrian pounds ($45) per month in Assad’s army, expressed his willingness to serve under the new leadership.
Inside the former Baath Party building, soldiers stood in short lines before entering rooms where interrogators questioned them. An interrogator, speaking anonymously, noted, “I see regret in their eyes.”
One soldier, who now works at a shawarma restaurant in the Damascus suburb of Harasta, was asked about his military-issued rifle. “I left it at the base where I served,” he replied, surrendering his military ID in exchange for civilian status.
The interrogator explained that each soldier’s answers would be verified through additional investigations and follow-up questioning in the coming weeks. By the end of his two-hour session, he had interrogated 20 soldiers, with numbers expected to grow as more former military personnel seek amnesty.
The new Syrian leadership faces the monumental task of addressing the legacy of Assad’s regime while determining the role of former soldiers in rebuilding the nation.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
