On the night of December 6, Mohammed el-Nadaf, a soldier in the Syrian army, found himself in Homs as rebels advanced through the city, fresh from their swift capture of Aleppo and Hama. Feeling disillusioned, Mohammed chose not to engage in combat.
“We had no orders or information. I took off my uniform, left my weapons, and made my way to my village in Tartous,” he stated.
Simultaneously, another soldier, Mohammed Ramadan, was stationed on the outskirts of Damascus, observing the chaos. “There was no one to give orders to us. Many of our commanders abandoned us. Why should I die for someone who couldn’t even provide a living wage for my family?” he questioned.
“We received merely one egg and one potato daily as our rations,” he revealed. The following morning, he also abandoned his post.
The soldiers’ accounts shed light on the rapid disintegration of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, a process that surprised many within the disheartened and underpaid ranks.
Many soldiers reported receiving less than $35 a month and had to find additional jobs to survive in a country where such income barely covers basic living expenses.
Weeks after the regime’s fall, Mohammed Ramadan, still holding the Kalashnikov he was assigned, was among a crowd at a reconciliation center in Damascus managed by HTS.
This center allows former military officers, police, and pro-Assad militia members to register for a civilian identity card and surrender their weapons.
HTS has granted a general amnesty for individuals who served the prior regime.
Waleed Abdrabuh, overseeing the reconciliation centers in Damascus, stated, “The goal is to ensure weapons previously issued by the Assad regime are returned to the state, while members of the forces obtain civilian IDs for reintegration into society.”
Under Assad’s rule, military conscription was obligatory for adult males, depriving them of their civilian identities, which makes securing employment or moving freely challenging without a civilian ID.
At the Damascus center, formerly an office for the Baath Party, hundreds of men gathered expectantly, eager to disassociate from the regime’s crimes.
“I did not partake in any of their immoral acts. I consider them abhorrent. I tried to avoid involvement in any massacres,” asserted Mohammed al-Nadaf.
“I attempted to leave the military twice, realizing I was on the wrong side, but I was unable to escape due to them holding my civilian documents.”
Somar al-Hamwi, a veteran of 24 years in the military, reflected, “Most people are unaware of the happenings. Personally, I have no knowledge of the events in Saydnaya or any other prisons.”
Frustration toward the regime intensified as Assad fled to Russia on December 7, leaving his forces to fend for themselves. Somar lamented, “He [Bashar al-Assad] amassed wealth and escaped, abandoning us to our fates.”
Despite the horrors of a civil war that claimed over half a million lives, the atmosphere at the reconciliation center remained relatively peaceful. “Everyone told me it was safe to settle at the center. HTS’s assurance has made a significant impact,” said Mohammed al-Nadaf.
However, there are rising reports of revenge attacks, including killings, kidnappings, and arson across various regions in Syria, although no official statistics are available to confirm the extent.
In the past week, three judges in Masyaf, who were dealing with property-related cases, were reportedly killed in violent circumstances, raising serious concerns among the populace.
Mounzer Hassan, a judge, was believed to be targeted due to his Alawite background, which is closely associated with Assad’s regime. His wife, Nadine Abdullah, expressed deep sorrow, “They were civil judges, not criminal court judges, indicating they were killed simply for being Alawites.”
Nadine and Mounzer’s brother Nazir described the situation as tragic, emphasizing their innocence and the need to protect vulnerable individuals.
Nadine stated, “HTS must identify the perpetrators of these crimes. They have a responsibility to ensure our safety.” In response, HTS’s interim government condemned the killings, promising to hold accountable those responsible while alleging no involvement in retaliatory strikes.
Protests erupted in Masyaf following the judges’ deaths, fueling fears among the Alawite community regarding their security during these turbulent times.
While HTS declared an amnesty for Assad’s forces, it will be challenging to uphold accountability for those implicated in human rights abuses. This precarious period following the regime’s downfall marks a significant juncture for Syria’s future.
