Over 1,000 Volunteer Forces Join Army in Quneitra, Damascus

Over 1,000 Syrian volunteer forces will be trained to protect the regions that the army has already seized from the ISIL terrorist group.

This is for the third time that the residents of Damascus and Quneitra join the Syrian army.

“We have volunteered to join the Syrian army to fight terrorists and we are trying to purge Quneitra of terrorists,” a volunteer force from Quneitra said.

The volunteer forces will undergo weapons, combat, offensive and counteroffensive trainings to get prepared for confronting complicated terrorist operations.

The Syrian civilians are joining the army at a time when tens of militants are surrendering themselves to the Syrian authorities across the country.

A growing number of militants are giving up fight against the Damascus government as the Syrian army is advancing in multiple front across the country.

On Sunday, over 180 wanted militants turned themselves in to the Syrian authorities in Dara’a as the army is tightening grip on the terrorist groups across the country.

The sources said that the recent victories of the Syrian army and National Defense Forces, with the backup of the Russia fighter jets, have caused a growing number of Takfiri terrorists to lay down their arms in Dara’a province in the hope that they will be pardoned by the government.

Also on Sunday, the Syrian government announced that it has released tens of militants who had been jailed for armed struggle against the Damascus government.

President Bashar Assad’s government freed 270 militants within the framework of the country’s reconciliation plan, the Arabic service of Russia Today television channel said.

The development came after President Bashar al-Assad in a televised address in July pardoned all soldiers who have fled the army, saying that his words served as a general decree to relevant officials.

On Saturday, some 200 wanted militants from Zabadani region and Madaya in Damascus province turned themselves in to the authorities.

“The Syrian government has vowed to pardon all those who lay down arms voluntarily and it has remained loyal to its pledge so far, and this has encouraged us to give up fight, specially considering that the government troops, National Defense Forces and Hezbollah who also enjoy the air backup of the Syrian and Russian air forces has gained momentum in its battlefield victories,” one of those who surrendered in Damascus said.

Until last year, most surrendering cases happened in Homs and Damascus provinces, but now a growing number of militants lay down arms across the country.

In October, some 558 wanted militants surrendered to the Syrian authorities as the army troops, backed by Russian air support, had gained a faster momentum in their match on terrorist-held regions.

On Oct 28, 49 wanted persons from Damascus, Damascus Countryside, Quneitra, and Hama also surrendered.

Late in November, sources said some 159 wanted militants had turned themselves in to the authorities as the army continued to purge almost the entire coastal province of Lattakia of terrorist groups.

The sources said that the recent victories of the Syrian army and National Defense Forces, with the backup of the Russia fighter jets, have caused too many Takfiri terrorists to lay down their guns and apply for government pardoning in Lattakia province.

On Nov 1, at least 184 terrorists have laid down arms and surrendered to the Syrian authorities in Damascus, Aleppo and Deir Ezzur provinces, local sources said.

Following the Syrian-Russian joint operations, thousands of Takfiri terrorists have also fled Syria to Jordan, Turkey and Europe.

On Nov 11, some 69 wanted militants turned themselves in to the Syrian authorities in the Northern Province of Aleppo as the army defeated the ISIL terrorists who had laid siege on Kuweires Airbase for 2.5 years and still continues to gain more territories in the province.

Some 119 wanted terrorists from Homs province surrendered to the government as the terrorist groups are retreating from several areas across the country.

60 others from the provinces of Damascus, Quneitra and Homs also laid down arms and turned themselves in to the Syrian authorities on Nov 7.