Tue Dec 29, 2015 11:54:52
Hundreds of fighters, gunmen and their families in three besieged parts of Syria have been evacuated under a truce deal brokered by the United Nations.
Buses and ambulances ferried at least 120 Sunni rebels and their families from Zabadani into nearby Lebanon.
At the same time, about 300 fighters and civilians were transported from two Shia villages in the north to Turkey.
Zabadani had been besieged by pro-government forces, while Sunni rebels had encircled Kefraya and Fuaa for months.
Under the truce deal, the evacuees from Zabadani will be taken in by Turkey, while those from Fuaa and Kefraya will go on to Lebanon from Turkey, then back to government-held parts of Syria.
The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) said the Lebanese Red Cross, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the UN were all involved in the operation.
Zabadani is the last major rebel stronghold along the Lebanese border. Terrorist fighters from the Ahrar al-Sham and other allied groups had been holding on, but faced almost certain defeat.
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