After a negotiated pullout from Homs, the last group Syrian rebels is also poised to leave the city for good, said the provincial governor.
Governor Talal al-Barazi told AFP, “The third and final convoy of the day is about to leave. Earlier today, 200 rebels were evacuated. There are another 500 people who are about to be evacuated. The whole operation has been smooth.”
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The rebels had held the city of Homs under siege for two years and this is the first time their withdrawal from the city centre has been actuated.
Approximately 980 people, including rebels and a few civilians, left the Old City on the day 1 of the UN-supervised evacuation. The evacuees have been transported to an opposition-held town of Dar al-Kabira, which is 20 kilometres (13 miles) to the north. This operation leaves all rebel groups confined to a single district.
Barazi expects to have a similar evacuation agreement for Waer too.
He said, “In Waer, things will be easier and in the coming weeks new deals will be announced to restore security.”
The Syrian government has allowed the remaining rebels in Homs to release dozens of hostages and prisoners held by opposition fighters.
This is not first deal between the rebels and the Syrian government, the past saw many agreements foiled, but finally the rebel fighters have conceded to withdraw from an area they forcefully controlled, under a settlement with the government.
