Lebanese-Syria border freed from ISIL insurgents after deal sees militants and families escorted out of area after week-long battle
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A convoy of ISIL fighters and their families has left the Lebanon-Syrian border under Syrian army escort, surrendering their enclave after a week-long battle.
An estimated 300 insurgents were among those being evacuated. It was part of a deal brokered with the Lebanese Army on one front and Hezbollah and the Syrian army on the other.
The transfer ends a significant insurgent presence on the Lebanese border. Earlier journalists were shown positions recaptured from self-styled Islamic State after they’d agreed a ceasefire.
Lebanon has been keen to rid its northeast border area of insurgents in a bid to contain a spill over from the Syrian conflict. The convoy of insurgents is headed for Islamic State lines in eastern Syria.
West #Qalamoun : thanks to brave #Hezbollah, #SAA and #LAF fighters , #Lebanon – #Syria border is now fully free from #Daesh and #AlQaeda pic.twitter.com/AM90uo5Www
— Emmanuel (@EmmanuelGMay) August 28, 2017