The US sources have come to the conclusion that Syria has established an army of refugees in Lebanon and Jordan and that the return of these refugees to their homeland will require only a political settlement, al-Binaa Lebanese newspaper reported on Friday.

The sources added that the loss of control over certain areas did not deprive the Syrian government from its strategic role in the region, yet the Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan have given Syria influence over other areas.

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman informed the Saudis about the necessity of reaching a political solution in Syria as soon as possible due to the strategic achievements the Syrian government has reached.

Tens of thousands of Syrians flooded the main thoroughfare leading to their embassy in Lebanon to cast their ballots for the Syrian presidential election on Wednesday.

The high voter turnout in Beirut, numbering around 80,000, prompted the embassy to extend polls until midnight Thursday.

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdel-Karim Ali told Al-Manar TV that “large numbers were expected, but not to this extent,” thanking security forces for “facilitating the voting process.”

Syria's presidential vote is set to be held on June 3, but expatriates' votes were collected on March 28.

On Wednesday, Syrian citizens living abroad voted at the Syrian embassies in a number of countries including Iran, Russia, Yemen, China, Lebanon, Malaysia, Venezuela, Jordan, Sudan, Oman, the Czech Republic, Belarus and India, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported.

NTJ/MB