Evacuations begin from besieged Syria towns
Updated 08:39, 22-Jul-2018
CGTN
["other","Middle East"]
Buses began evacuating fighters and civilians from two besieged pro-government towns in Syria early on Thursday morning under a deal that will allow thousands to leave after years of encirclement.
Twenty buses are seen driving out of Foua and Kefraya, the last two remaining towns under siege in the war-torn country.
Both militiamen and regular civilians could be seen on board the vehicles, as well as stacks of personal belongings.
Rebel fighters watch as a convoy of buses gets ready to enter the towns of Foua and Kefraya to evacuate their residents, July 18, 2018. /VCG Photo

Rebel fighters watch as a convoy of buses gets ready to enter the towns of Foua and Kefraya to evacuate their residents, July 18, 2018. /VCG Photo

The evacuations come as part of a deal reached on Tuesday between government ally Russia and rebel-backer Turkey, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
All residents -- about 6,900 people including fighters and civilians -- are expected to be ferried out, said the Britain-based monitor.
In exchange, the Syrian government is expected to release hundreds of prisoners from its detention centers.
The towns came under siege in 2015 as rebels and jihadists overran the surrounding province of Idlib, cutting off access to food and medicine.
(Cover: A rebel fighter watches as a convoy of buses gets ready to enter the towns of Foua and Kefraya to evacuate their residents on July 18, 2018. /VCG Photo)
Source(s): AFP