BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:45 P.M.) – With little forewarning or expectation, scores of militants across Syria have suddenly surrendered to Syrian government forces today, taking up a long-standing reconciliation deal that remains in effect after many years.

In the province of Daraa, around 100 militants belonging to Free Syrian Army-linked Al-Omari Brigades surrendered to Syrian Army forces, leaving their defensive positions in the Lajat area of the region and approaching government troops at the city of Al-Sanmein.

According to sources, the surrender militants are from the town Shiaara in Daraa’s northern countryside. The rebels themselves claim that they are fed up with the war and just want to return to a normal civilian life.

In the far south of Homs province near the Jordanian border, more than 50 civilians and rebels fighters left the Rukkban refugee camp and crossed the Syrian desert towards Syrian Army lines, handing over their weapons and themselves to government forces.

From here, the militants – most of them being native to the oasis town of Al-Qarayatayn – were transported by Syrian authorities to Al-Sawwanah in eastern Homs.

As with all surrendered militant forces, the service record of the ex-rebel fighters will be vetted to make sure they were not involved in any war crimes. So long as no evidence of involvement in war crimes is found, the surrendered militants will be allowed to return to civilian life.