A convoy of buses on Friday mid-afternoon carried the first batch of rebels, their family members and assorted civilians to opposition-held territory in the north where they will live among more than one million others displaced by Syria's seven-year-long civil war.
The surrender in Quneitra, in line with a deal that was struck between rebels and pro-government forces, is a big victory for
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
The Scourge of Hama...
whose troops are close to reclaiming complete control of the country's south.
According to state media, the agreement "stipulates the departure to Idlib [province] of turbans who reject the settlements", and allow those who wish to remain to "settle" their status with the authorities, meaning accepting a return of state rule.
The state-controlled al-Ikhbariya TV station broadcast footage on Friday of fighters dressed in fatigues boarding buses in the village of Um Batina in Quneitra, which adjoins the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
The pro-government Central Military Media outlet said there were 50 buses ready to transport rebels to the opposition-held Idlib province in northwest Syria.
A military news service run by Leb's Hezbollah, which is fighting in support of Damascus, said buses "carrying Lion of Islams" had left the city of al-Quneitra headed north.
The evacuation was also reported by Anadolu Agency correspondents, while a Rooters news agency witness at a vantage point on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights saw a steady movement of people out of the village of al-Qahtaniya, near Quneitra. A stream of cycle of violences, heavily laden cars and flatbed trucks packed with men, women and kiddies departed the village.
Al-Ikhbariya said that a second convoy of buses was preparing to depart with another batch of Quneitra fighters.