Zabadani: the last rebels leave
Comments
The last rebels in the town of Zabadani near Damascus in Syria have either departed for insurgent-held regions or accepted government rule.
Pro-government media are reporting it is part of a reciprocal evacuation deal for besieged areas.
The details
A pro-government radio station is quoting a senior official in Zabadani as saying the area was empty of militants after the last batch of them had left on Wednesday morning.
A military media unit, run by Damascus ally Hezbollah and the UK-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also reported that evacuations had resumed and a convoy of 11 buses left army-besieged Zabadani.
The destinations
Insurgents and their families from Zabadani and Madaya near Damascus crossed to rebel-held territory.
Civilians and pro-government fighters from the Shi’ite villages near Idlib were taken by bus to government-controlled Aleppo.
The destinations
On Saturday, activists say a bomb attack on a convoy of evacuees from al-Foua and Kefraya killed 126 people, including more than 60 children.
Under the deal, civilians and pro-government fighters from the Shi’ite villages were travelling by bus to government-controlled Aleppo.
Insurgents and their families from al-Zabadani and Madaya near Damascu crossed to rebel-held territory, having first gone to Aleppo.
Three of Wednesday’s buses also carried wounded people from Saturday’s convoy attack.