On the offensive with the brand new Syrian safety forces

We’re in Latakia, using with safety forces simply 10 days after the autumn of the Syrian authorities led by former President Bashar al-Assad. We’re informed that considered one of their missions right here is to attempt to discover and arrest members of the previous regime. They are saying the bigger purpose is to safe a metropolis that till just lately was an Assad household stronghold. We wished to see if they’d do it otherwise than their predecessors. We arrive at a home belonging to a former Syrian military officer. Besides he isn’t the one arrested. These two suspects in custody are former rebels. In concept, they’re allies, a part of a coalition of teams that joined forces to topple the Assad regime. They’ve been focusing on Assad’s military for years, however at the moment it acquired them into bother. We go inside to search out out what occurred. All through their time with this safety unit, they insisted on their dedication to due course of, even when it meant serving to a former enemy. The 2 fighters accused of looting have been returned to the bottom, in a compound that was beforehand the army safety headquarters right here beneath Assad. Our leaders had been keen to attract consideration to the legacy of the Assad authorities, considered one of systemic repression, brutality and torture. Simply down the hall, the arrested fighters are about to change into prisoners right here as effectively. Regardless of efforts to problem the previous regime, questions stay about whether or not the brand new management can ship a fairer justice system in a Syria grappling with the ghosts of its previous.