-"Assad administration set Muslims against Muslims"
An Anadolu Agency (AA) correspondent was able to take photographs and shoot video of a castle in Harim town of the Syrian city of Idlib after the castle was taken under the control of opposition forces following clashes of two months.
The castle is now in ruins due to the clashes and around 150 Assad troops receive medical treatment there.
Hundreds of civilians were killed after Assad forces opened fire on the town from the castle and dozens of homes were destroyed.
Around 1,200 Assad troops were once present at the castle.
Speaking to the AA, a soldier of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), Abdulminem Sebag Abu Fadil said that the Harim castle was in the hands of Assad forces for three months.
"Here at the castle, the Assad forces met their needs of food, water and bath," Fadil indicated.
"We took control of the castle about a week ago," Fadil noted.
"Assad forces and Shabiha members for two months sprayed bullets on the Syrian people from this castle. They massacred people, including the children and the elderly. They did not let anyone approach their homes. People could not get out of their homes for fear of death. They stole people's food and home items and took such materials to the castle. They cooked meals with food that they stole. However, with God's will, we took away the castle from their hands," Fadil indicated.
-"Damascus next"-
Another FSA soldier Mur-el Sellet stressed that there was no longer any Assad troop at the castle.
"We arrested them all and took away Harim from them," Sellet noted.
"The FSA is now strong. We have taken control of many locations in Idlib. It is now time to take control of Damascus. We are getting stronger every passing day. We have achieved to take control of many points, beginning at the border region. Damascus is the next city we want to take control of as massacres take place there every day. We will now struggle to take control of Damascus," Sellet indicated.
-"We regret pointing out guns to our brethren"-
Those Assad forces arrested are being kept in a building right down under the castle.
Those Assad troops who were wounded receive medical treatment.
An Assad troop who was wounded and taken to a hospital in an ambulance with the assistance of opposition forces, Haji Salih said that he regretted pointing out a gun to his own people.
"We do not even know why we are fighting. The Assad administration set Muslims against Muslims. I want to call on everyone here. Brothers should not fight against brothers. Those who are forced to do so should run away. There is no end to this war. We are not treated here as prisoners. We have received nice treatment here. May God be with them," Salih stressed.
-"We were left at a mosque being wounded"-
Another wounded Syrian troop said that his fellow troops left him at a mosque after he got wounded.
"I was basically left to die at the mosque," the wounded soldier stated.
"The opposition forces have helped us receive medical treatment. I regret what I have done. The opposition forces have treated us very well," the wounded soldier said.
An FSA troop, Haysan Fadil Igneymi underlined that many of the Assad forces were wounded.
"We treat those wounded soldiers," Igneymi also said.
Reporting by Lale Koklu
