President Bashar al-Assad has made an unprecedented offer of amnesty for military deserters and draft dodgers in the hope of encouraging Syrians to return home.

In a decree issued on official social media feeds, the government said they will not receive any punishment but would still have to serve the mandatory two years of service.

Those who defected and joined the Free Syrian Army (FSA) or other rebel groups who fought against regime forces are blacklisted, however, and will therefore not be given clemency.

An official from the reconciliation ministry told the Telegraph that those living inside the country had four months to “turn themselves in”, while those living outside the country had six months to do so.

He said he expected tens of thousands to accept the amnesty.

The fear of potential punishment for ducking military service or desertion is frequently cited by the some six million refugees living abroad as one of the main reasons they do not wish to return to Syria.

Under Syrian military law, deserters can face years of prison if they leave their post and do not report for service within a set amount of time.