They fought for Assad in Syria. Now they are giving up their weapons.

In a former police station in Latakia, Syria, the past and present collide. Once controlled by the Assad regime, the compound is now run by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – the group that led the offensive that 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, because failure to comply could mean prison, prosecution or worse. Ali Adra, a former military doctor, says he has accepted his reality. Change in Syria has happened quickly and the stakes are high. But not everyone gets a second chance. Here in Latakia, these soldiers are striving for a degree, but the path forward remains uncertain.