Tens of people leave ISIS convoy coming from Al-Qalamoun and head individually towards Deir Ezzor

Several reliable sources informed the SOHR that tens of people left the place where ISIS convoy coming from the barrens of Al-Qalamoun has stopped since the 28th of August 2017 in Al-Sukhna dessert. The SOHR learned that about 12 cars individually moved tens of people away from the convoy buses which moved hundreds of ISIS members a few days ago from the barrens of the western Qalamoun, following the agreement reached with the Lebanese Hezbollah. By virtue of such agreement, ISIS members were moved from the Syrian – Lebanese border to the border between Homs and Deir Ezzor in preparation for moving them to Deir Ezzor Province, which is mostly controlled by ISIS in exchange for handing over the dead bodies of members of the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iranian Forces which were held by ISIS. Those who left the convoy individually headed towards Deir Ezzor countryside after the Iraqi government refused to let the convoy pass through their territories to Deir Ezzor countryside and because of the fact that the International Coalition is targeting the convoy’s route.

The SOHR published yesterday, the 1st of September 2017, that five days passed since ISIS convoy started its journey from the barrens of Qara city and the western Qalamoun near the Syrian –Lebanese borders. The convoy carries hundreds of ISIS fighters and their families, who withdrew and got out from these barrens heading towards Deir Ezzor province, which is mostly controlled by ISIS. The regime forces had moved deeper into the province and regained control over about 2900 square kilometers of its western desert. The convoy is still moving within the regime-controlled areas in Al-Sukhna dessert looking for a new safe path towards the countryside of Deir Ezzor province, after the Iraqi side refused to let it pass through Iraqi territories, and after the International Coalition shelled its set route. The SOHR also published on Thursday, the 31st of August 2017, that the convoy which is carrying hundreds of the members of the “Islamic State” organization and their families, who withdrew from the western Qalamoun a few days ago, headed towards Al-Koum area, located northwest of Hmimeh area in the eastern countryside of Homs. Reliable sources confirmed to the SOHR that the convoy and those responsible for the execution of the agreement are now looking for a new safe passage through which the convoy can reach Deir Ezzor countryside. This came after the Iraqi side refused to let it pass through the Iraqi territories to the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, and after the International Coalition warplanes targeted its set route on Wednesday. The SOHR published on Thursday morning that the convoy which is carrying hundreds of the members of the “Islamic State” organization and their families, is still waiting at the administrative border between Homs and Deir Ezzor. The SOHR learned that the convoy, which left on Monday night the 28th of August 2017, is still waiting in Hmimeh area which is controlled by regime forces, until a new safe passage is secured to the areas controlled by ISIS after warplanes of the International Coalition targeted the convoy’s route on Wednesday the 30th of August 2017, to prevent it from entering Deir Ezzor countryside. The convoy intends to head towards Al-Bokamal area. Reliable sources confirmed to the SOHR that the convoy is waiting for the approval of the Iraqi side to move through areas controlled by the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces to areas controlled by ISIS.

This agreement came after about 12 days of targeting the barren mountains of Al-Qalamoun with shelling, military operations and raids. Once ISIS members move from Al-Qalamoun to Deir Ezzor, the regime forces would regain full control over the Syrian-Lebanese border except for the area opposite to Shab’a area, which is adjacent to the southwestern part of Rif Dimashq. The SOHR published on the 15th of August 2017 that tens of buses transporting civilians and fighters of Ahl Al-Sham Brigades and their families reached Al-Rahiba town in the eastern Qalamoun. The Convoy, which consisted of 40 buses and 14 Red Cross-affiliate Vehicles carrying at least 2000 people, including 300 fighters of Ahl Al-Sham Brigades along with their families, entered the town of Falita in the Syrian territories coming from Lebanese territories heading to the area of Al-Rahiba in the Eastern Qalamoun. The Syrian Observatory learned that tens of families chose to go to the regime-controlled areas, while reliable sources told the Syrian Observatory that the young men refrained from returning to the Syrian territories for fear of being recruited by the pro-regime Qalamoun Shield Forces. It is worth mentioning that this operation comes as part of the agreement, which was reached on the 3rd of August 2017, to evacuate the people from the Syrian barren hills of Falita and the Lebanese barren hills of Arsal in exchange for handing over the prisoners of the Lebanese Hezbollah who were held by Hayaat Tahrir Al-Sham in Idlib to which a convoy carrying at least 8 thousand people, including hundreds of members and fighters of Hayaat Tahrir Al-Sham along with their families, arrived.