Militants Lay Down Arms in Syrian Homs City as Part of Peace Process

According to a source in the city's administration, a group of 210 militants laid down its arms in the Syrian western city of Homs on Sundays as part of the national reconciliation program.

HOMS (Syria) (Sputnik) – A group of 210 militants laid down its arms in the Syrian western city of Homs on Sundays as part of the national reconciliation program, a source in the city's administration told RIA Novosti.

"Work on the rehabilitation of former militants out of workers from the [Homs] industrial area of Hisya has begun after they laid down their arms. A total of 210 people," the source said.

Syria has been mired in civil war since March 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

The Middle East country's reconciliation program began in 2013. The program stipulates that former militants have the opportunity to resume peaceful life after surrendering their arms to the Syrian army and undergoing rehabilitation process.

The program proved successful when, in 2013, some 1,500 fighters laid down arms in Homs, thus enabling the Syrian army to regain control of the city center.