Over 700 militants in Syria surrender to authorities
More than 700 foreign-sponsored militants fighting the Syrian government have turned themselves in to authorities.
As many as 525 militants, who were from Daraa, Sweida, Damascus, Homs, Qunaitera, Hama, Lattakia, Deir Ezzor, Idlib and Raqqa, submitted their weapons to the Syrian army on Monday, Syria’s news agency SANA reported.
According to the report, 180 other militants from al-Zabadani area in the countryside of the Syrian capital Damascus also handed their guns to Syrian authorities.
In April, around 100 foreign-sponsored militants, who were from two areas in the countryside of Damascus, submitted their weapons to the Syrian army.
Officials said those who did not commit crimes will be set free after promising not to carry arms again, or carry out any act to destabilize the security of the country.
The Syrian army has been making more gains in its battle in recent months, despite support the militants have been receiving from various countries.
On August 14, Syrian troops retook the control of Mleiha in Damascus’ countryside. The town lies on the edge of the eastern region of Ghouta near the capital’s International Airport.
Syrian army personnel have also pledged to continue fighting for recapturing militant-held areas.
“Militants regarded Mleiha as a strategic area. They were aiming to attack the capital from here. We defeated them here and we will eliminate them wherever they go across the country,” a Syrian army personnel said in an interview with Press TV.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the Takfiri war in his country has strongly shifted in favor of government forces as they have made continuous gains in their fight against the terrorists.
Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. According to some sources, more than 170,000 people have been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by the foreign-backed militants.
The US and its regional allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, are reportedly giving financial and military support to the militants.
