Syria conflict: Rebels leave Homs under truce

Syrian rebels have begun evacuating the last district they control in the city of Homs under a ceasefire deal reached with the government. Those leaving al-Wair, under siege for almost three years, will travel to rebel-held areas of Idlib province. Homs was once dubbed the “capital of the revolution” and saw some of the first […]

Syrian rebels have begun evacuating the last district they control in the city of Homs under a ceasefire deal reached with the government.
Those leaving al-Wair, under siege for almost three years, will travel to rebel-held areas of Idlib province.
Homs was once dubbed the “capital of the revolution” and saw some of the first protests of the 2011 uprising.
But the truce means the entire city returns to government control, in a boost for President Bashar al-Assad.
Buses arrived on Wednesday to transport fighters and their families out of the Homs suburb of al-Wair. About 700 people, including rebel fighters and civilians, are due to depart throughout Wednesday, Homs governor Talal Barazi said.
Fighters linked to al-Qaeda are among those due to leave, but moderate groups who have accepted the ceasefire are expected to remain.