DAMASCUS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Monday ended the mandatory service for non-commissioned officers and conscripts who joined the army in 2010, state-run SANA news agency reported.
The army's decree also covers the reserve troops who reported to the service before July 1, 2012.
But these reserve troops, who would be discharged by the new law, are allowed to continue the service if they want.
The military personnel covered by the new decree can leave the service from Jan. 2, 2019.
Earlier this month, the Syrian army issued a decree to discharge the conscript officers who have served in the army for five years.
The decision, which went into force on Dec. 16, covered officers who had served in the reserve forces as well as those whose compulsory military service was extended and reached five years.
In May, the army discharged the longest-serving active recruitment class Group 102, whose personnel joined the army in early 2010.
Ahead of the seven-year crisis in Syria, the mandatory military service was time-fixed to a year and a half but as the crisis dragged on, the army kept large numbers of conscripts in service for more years.
As the situation has become much better and the military operations have dramatically decreased, more flexible service laws are expected in Syria.
