Syria continues operations against former regime soldiers refusing to surrender arms

By Ethem Emre Ozcan and Omer Koparan

DAMASCUS (AA) - The Syrian General Security Directorate carried out operations targeting soldiers from the ousted Baath regime who refused to surrender their weapons in Damascus and Hama, the Syrian news agency SANA reported.

Following the fall of the regime, the new Syrian administration issued a general amnesty and established reconciliation centers in several provinces, urging former regime members to surrender their weapons within a specific time.

In recent days, the General Security Directorate also urged reconciliation in Tartus, Homs and Latakia, conducting large-scale operations against former regime members who refused to hand over their arms.

Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s rule, which had lasted since 1963.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan