Amnestied militants in Aleppo are siding with the Syrian army en masse, while others are returning to civilian life.
"They (terrorists) promised us to build a just future, but are only bringing death and atrocities. These are crazy fanatics who can only do one thing - to kill. Civilians do not support them," an amnestied militant, a Syrian army soldier called Abdullah, told reporters.
Former terrorists admit that they lay down arms despite threats. "That was indeed my personal decision. I will defend my people from militants and liberate my homeland from them," Saleb who is now a member of a volunteer assault corprs, said.
Some civilians had to join militants against their will, some of them out of despair, others were blackmailed with militants threatening to kill their family members.
"I used to live in eastern Aleppo and had no means of subsistence to feed my family. On the other hand, the gunmen’s warehouses were stuffed with western humanitarian aid, but they distributed it only among the gunmen’s families. I joined their ranks not to die of starvation," another amnestied gunman, Mohammad Ahmad Jasim, said. As soon as the Syrian army launched an offensive, he immediately surrendered to the authorities.
All the militants who decided to lay down their arms, undergo checks. Those who decided to join the army are provided with the necessary munitions. The process is ensured by the elders with the participation of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, TASS reported.
