These guys with me are from the Free Syrian Army. They are defected soldiers from the army
These guys with me are from the Free Syrian Army. They are defected soldiers from the army

of the Syrian regime.We're on a surveillance mission. It's an army base and there's security
of the Syrian regime.We're on a surveillance mission. It's an army base and there's security

forces and shabiha.Our mission is to survey the base: The number of men, their equipment
forces and shabiha.Our mission is to survey the base: The number of men, their equipment

and combat capability.
and combat capability.

After we finish our surveillance we will inform the headquarters of the Free Syrian Army in north Syria, in Jisr Shughour.
After we finish our surveillance we will inform the headquarters of the Free Syrian Army in north Syria, in Jisr Shughour.

I feel proud that we the Free Syrian Army can say that we are here, that we are here on the ground. And hopefully soon
I feel proud that we the Free Syrian Army can say that we are here, that we are here on the ground. And hopefully soon

we will conduct large operations. Operations to topple the regime.
we will conduct large operations. Operations to topple the regime.

Eight months into a brutal crackdown on peaceful protests, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
Eight months into a brutal crackdown on peaceful protests, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

is now facing the reality of a threat which for so long was only a fiction: An armed rebellion
is now facing the reality of a threat which for so long was only a fiction: An armed rebellion

seeking to topple him by force.But the men now turning their guns on the Assad family's
seeking to topple him by force.But the men now turning their guns on the Assad family's

41-year dictatorship are not the criminal gangs or terrorists the regime claims, but
41-year dictatorship are not the criminal gangs or terrorists the regime claims, but

members of Syria's own security forces, defected after refusing to open fire on unarmed protesters.
members of Syria's own security forces, defected after refusing to open fire on unarmed protesters.

I was an officer in the regime's army Actually I wasn't an officer in the army, I was a member
I was an officer in the regime's army Actually I wasn't an officer in the army, I was a member

of Military Intelligence. I defected from the regime because I used to see a lot of the
of Military Intelligence. I defected from the regime because I used to see a lot of the

things the regime did. How they oppress the people, their iron grip on the people, how they
things the regime did. How they oppress the people, their iron grip on the people, how they

assault people. How the regime is like a criminal gang.
assault people. How the regime is like a criminal gang.

An unlikely freedom fighter, Abu Ali spent his early career as an enforcer of the police state, a member of Syria's feared Military Intelligence.
An unlikely freedom fighter, Abu Ali spent his early career as an enforcer of the police state, a member of Syria's feared Military Intelligence.

We were authorised to do whatever we wanted.
We were authorised to do whatever we wanted.

Who gave the orders? The general leader, President Bashar. So it was like a genocide against the
Who gave the orders? The general leader, President Bashar. So it was like a genocide against the

people. And I was part of it.The army went to the streets and shelled houses with tanks.We
people. And I was part of it.The army went to the streets and shelled houses with tanks.We

shelled the civilians and the demonstrations.
shelled the civilians and the demonstrations.

Having defected and fled across the border from Syria into Lebanon, Abu Ali prays with other Syrian refugees in a local mosque for
Having defected and fled across the border from Syria into Lebanon, Abu Ali prays with other Syrian refugees in a local mosque for

the downfall of the Assad regime.
the downfall of the Assad regime.

Oh God bring to Bashar and his soldiers an earthquake May God bring to Bashar and his soldiers an earthquake And let what happens
Oh God bring to Bashar and his soldiers an earthquake May God bring to Bashar and his soldiers an earthquake And let what happens

to them be an example And let what happens to them be an example And let the aim of destroying
to them be an example And let what happens to them be an example And let the aim of destroying

them be the goal, oh God And let the aim of destroying them be the goal, oh God
them be the goal, oh God And let the aim of destroying them be the goal, oh God

They don't have religion or morals
They don't have religion or morals

Here we are on the border. We are in this area.They planted the mines in this area here.
Here we are on the border. We are in this area.They planted the mines in this area here.

After I joined the Free Syrian Army a group of deserted soldiers joined me. I am a commander now. A field commander. We carry out operations.
After I joined the Free Syrian Army a group of deserted soldiers joined me. I am a commander now. A field commander. We carry out operations.

We will enter from this position. We can cross from here. We've demined the area secretly.It's
We will enter from this position. We can cross from here. We've demined the area secretly.It's

a very narrow crossing. We will pass from this point.
a very narrow crossing. We will pass from this point.

Depending on our orders we either help the peaceful protesters. If there's injured protesters
Depending on our orders we either help the peaceful protesters. If there's injured protesters

or martyrs we transfer them and protect them. We may shoot at security forces or shabiha if
or martyrs we transfer them and protect them. We may shoot at security forces or shabiha if

they open fire on demonstrations. We protect them. That's our job.
they open fire on demonstrations. We protect them. That's our job.

A short distance across the remote valleys that form the border between north Lebanon
A short distance across the remote valleys that form the border between north Lebanon

and Syria, a second commander of the Free Syrian Army, also a defected soldier, explains
and Syria, a second commander of the Free Syrian Army, also a defected soldier, explains

why he believes only force can end the violence in Syria.
why he believes only force can end the violence in Syria.

Why are we necessary? I will ask you this question: If you saw two people fighting and
Why are we necessary? I will ask you this question: If you saw two people fighting and

one defeated the other and one of them was shooting and one was unarmed, wouldn't you defend the weak?
one defeated the other and one of them was shooting and one was unarmed, wouldn't you defend the weak?

As a military we don't have enough ammunition. We have only light arms.
As a military we don't have enough ammunition. We have only light arms.

And we also lack equipment. For Syria we said if we had external support from the EU or
And we also lack equipment. For Syria we said if we had external support from the EU or

Turkey or the US or UK or France, it should be for an independent military area for our
Turkey or the US or UK or France, it should be for an independent military area for our

army to gather, a no-fly zone and military support with weapons,
army to gather, a no-fly zone and military support with weapons,

So we are strengthened for our next step against the regime. Until it becomes just the same as Gaddafi's regime, defeated and behind bars.
So we are strengthened for our next step against the regime. Until it becomes just the same as Gaddafi's regime, defeated and behind bars.

In an interview for this film the leader of
In an interview for this film the leader of

the Free Syrian Army, Riad Asaad -- who is no relation to the ruling family - said his
the Free Syrian Army, Riad Asaad -- who is no relation to the ruling family - said his

rebel army had grown fast. -The Free Syrian Army is the army of the people,
rebel army had grown fast. -The Free Syrian Army is the army of the people,

the army of the nation. It grew out of the Syrian army of the tyrant who is killing people in Syria.
the army of the nation. It grew out of the Syrian army of the tyrant who is killing people in Syria.

The Free Syrian Army got organized three months ago due to more defections
The Free Syrian Army got organized three months ago due to more defections

from soldiers and officers and it now has divisions all over Syria.
from soldiers and officers and it now has divisions all over Syria.

Asaad, who is based in Turkey, insisted the move towards an armed rebellion did not spell
Asaad, who is based in Turkey, insisted the move towards an armed rebellion did not spell

a descent into civil war in Syria. -We respect all sects in Syria. They have what
a descent into civil war in Syria. -We respect all sects in Syria. They have what

we have and we do not favour one person over the other We call for a true democratic country,
we have and we do not favour one person over the other We call for a true democratic country,

to be a civil state with all that means. All people are represented on the street so elections
to be a civil state with all that means. All people are represented on the street so elections

should be held for all people
should be held for all people

But before elections can happen in Syria, the Free Syrian Army say attacks against Assad's security forces must be stepped up.
But before elections can happen in Syria, the Free Syrian Army say attacks against Assad's security forces must be stepped up.

There was a tank around it there were soldiers I stood here away from it.
There was a tank around it there were soldiers I stood here away from it.

What was the distance between you and them when we gave your orders to shoot? It was around 150 or 200 meters.
What was the distance between you and them when we gave your orders to shoot? It was around 150 or 200 meters.

I stood here the first. Of course, the first rocket didn't work.
I stood here the first. Of course, the first rocket didn't work.

I took it out and changed it. Then I launched the second one. That's when they were firing me.
I took it out and changed it. Then I launched the second one. That's when they were firing me.

That's you? Yes this is me.
That's you? Yes this is me.

I was holding the RPG. I launched it here. Did you hit your target? Of course.
I was holding the RPG. I launched it here. Did you hit your target? Of course.

When we joined the army we swore to defend the country from the enemy. It was not to fight
When we joined the army we swore to defend the country from the enemy. It was not to fight

our people if they demanded freedom. Now we're supporting the people to liberate them from injustice.
our people if they demanded freedom. Now we're supporting the people to liberate them from injustice.

They deceived us. We took our oath to defend the country, not the ruling family
They deceived us. We took our oath to defend the country, not the ruling family

God make us victorious against the tyrant of Syria. God make us victorious against Bashar
God make us victorious against the tyrant of Syria. God make us victorious against Bashar

and his collaborators. God please destroy his power and position. God give us the means to defeat him.
and his collaborators. God please destroy his power and position. God give us the means to defeat him.

Prayers done and dinner eaten, Abu Ali and
Prayers done and dinner eaten, Abu Ali and

his men set off on a mission under cover of darkness crossing the border from Lebanon
his men set off on a mission under cover of darkness crossing the border from Lebanon

back into Syria to survey a Syrian military base.
back into Syria to survey a Syrian military base.

The ultimate goal of the Free Syrian Army is topple the regime
The ultimate goal of the Free Syrian Army is topple the regime

Seven! Two! Four! You, move over there! How far are we from the Syrian border?We are
Seven! Two! Four! You, move over there! How far are we from the Syrian border?We are

inside the Syrian border. What are you surveying? The base. We're observing the army in the base.
inside the Syrian border. What are you surveying? The base. We're observing the army in the base.

Are you ready to fight with shabiha and Assad's troops? Yes, for sure. We can easily clash
Are you ready to fight with shabiha and Assad's troops? Yes, for sure. We can easily clash

with them despite our lack of ammunition.
with them despite our lack of ammunition.

We ask the international community to put pressure on the Syrian regime. And pressure President Bashar to step down. We ask the
We ask the international community to put pressure on the Syrian regime. And pressure President Bashar to step down. We ask the

international community to arm the Free Syrian Army because we have only a few arms and even less ammunition
international community to arm the Free Syrian Army because we have only a few arms and even less ammunition