The streets of Damascus are buzzing with excitement as hundreds of former soldiers and officers from the previous Syrian government gather outside reconciliation centers, underscoring hopes of regularizing their status under the new interim government.
The reconciliation centers were set up as part of a program to grant amnesty to those who did not participate in torture and killings under former President Bashar al-Assad.
Among those seeking reconciliation status is Ali Morshed, a former warrant officer in the Syrian army. He expressed hope that their status would be reviewed, stressing that they were not involved in bloodshed but were simply serving their country long ago.
Major Walid Abedrabbo, an officer in the new interim government, noted with surprise the turnout at the two centers in the capital. “Once they get to the center, they hand over items related to their service, such as firearms, pistols, IDs, and then we issue them a new temporary reconciliation card while we wait to issue a permanent card,” he said.
While deadly sectarian violence has flared up since Assad’s fall, it is far from what was feared after nearly 14 years of civil war. Dozens of Syrians have died in acts of revenge, according to activists and experts monitoring the situation in Syria.
Much of the current calm is attributed to the Islamic militant group that led the uprising and is helping rebuild the country by uniting its various factions.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is linked to al-Qaeda, has vowed not to discriminate on the basis of religion or ethnicity and has condemned acts of revenge.
These events illustrate a crucial moment of transition in Syria, where the hope for reconciliation and reconstruction, although fraught with obstacles, seems to be taking shape. The path to lasting peace and national reconciliation thus presents itself as a possible path for Syrians who aspire to turn the page on past conflicts and build a better future for their country.