new video loaded: They Fought for Assad in Syria. Now They’re Handing in Their Guns.
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transcript
They Fought for Assad in Syria. Now They’re Handing in Their Guns.
Across Syria, soldiers tied to the former Assad regime are surrendering their weapons to the interim government. The New York Times spoke to some of these men in Latakia, as they face a new and uncertain future as civilians.
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In a former police station in Latakia, Syria, the past and the present collide. Once controlled by the Assad regime, the compound is now run by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham — the group that spearheaded the offensive which toppled President Bashar al-Assad just over a week ago. For those who were formerly part of Assad’s forces, this is a moment of surrender — and survival, as failing to comply could mean imprisonment, prosecution or worse. Ali Adra, a former army medical officer, says he’s accepted his reality. The change in Syria has been fast, and the stakes are high. But not everyone gets a second chance. Here in Latakia, these soldiers seek closure, but the path forward remains uncertain.
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