Syrian rebels began pulling out of several towns in their former enclave of Eastern Ghouta on Saturday.

The fighters surrendered the areas to the government, leaving the besieged city of Douma as their last bastion near the capital Damascus. Buses carrying fighters, their families and other civilians departed from Eastern Ghouta after dark, headed into exile in rebel-held parts of the country's northwest. It follows the departure of thousands of others Friday from the town of Harasta under a similar deal for rebels to depart with light weapons in return for giving up their territory.