FILE IMAGE: Russian Military Police service members are in Syria
The Russian Military Police is recruiting former Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters from the recently liberated northern Homs countryside, the Syrian news outlet Enab Baladi reported on October 6.
According to the pro-opposition outlet, more than 5,000 locals have applied to join so far. However, the Russian Military Police wants 2,000 fighters only. Once accepted, the new recruits will sign a five-year contract and go through three months of training in a military base near the Syrian capital of Damascus.
These local fighters will likely join Syrian government forces, which support the monitoring missions of the Russian Military Police in Syria. Since 2015, the Russian Military Police has secured many liberated areas and has guaranteed several reconciliation agreements through the war torn country. However, the Russians will not stay there for an unlimited period of time. So, they are assisting the Damascus government in forming security forces consisting of personnel of pro-government units and some former members of opposition armed groups.
Last May, FSA groups in the northern Homs countryside accepted a reconciliation agreement that prevented a military operation. Under the agreement, hundreds of radical militants withdraw towards the opposition-held areas in northern Syria, while thousands others joined Damascus government forces.
