In Assad's Syria, women a small, symbolic part of fighting force

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Walaa's parents used to force her to stay indoors, fearing for her safety in the war-torn city of Homs. Now she proudly walks the streets each day with a kalashnikov and camouflage uniform.

For many women like Walaa, living in hard-hit areas loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, it is the first time in months they have been able to rejoin the outside world since Syria plummeted into civil war.