900 rebels, civilians evacuate Syria’s Daraa

As many as 900 rebels and their family members have evacuated the southern province of Daraa over the past 24 hours, as part of a Russian-backed agreement, a monitor group reported Monday night.

Altogether 24 buses evacuated the rebels and their families from the Busra al-Sham town, which is the gathering point for those who want to evacuate Daraa toward rebel-held areas in northern Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Britain-based watchdog group said the evacuees are from areas in southeastern Daraa.

On Sunday, 3,400 militants and their families left Daraa and the nearby province of Quneitra, according to the Observatory.

The evacuations are part of a Russian-backed agreement to allow the rebels and civilians who don’t want to reconcile with the government.

The Syrian army has already captured 90 percent of Daraa either through military action or reconciliations since June 19.

Both Daraa and Quneitra are key provinces for the Syrian army due to their proximity to Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

The Syrian army launched the offensive against the rebels in southern Syria late last month, following the major victory of the army in the capital Damascus.

With the Russian support, reconciliation deals are being reached in several areas, enabling the army to recapture many areas without battles.

Government officials in Syria stressed the Syrian army’s determination to capture all Syrian areas.

Source: 900 rebels, civilians evacuate Syria’s Daraa – Xinhua | English.news.cn