Syria: Evacuations From Besieged, Battered Areas

The evacuation of nearly 7,000 people besieged for years in two pro-regime towns in Syria follows a series of similar deals to remove residents and fighters from contested zones.

Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jul, 2018 ) :The evacuation of nearly 7,000 people besieged for years in two pro-regime towns in Syria follows a series of similar deals to remove residents and fighters from contested zones.

Fuaa and Kafraya were the last areas under blockade in Syria and rare examples of pro-government towns surrounded by rebel forces.

Most previous "reconciliation" deals have involved towns under crippling siege by government forces, with rebel fighters and civilians evacuated to the northwestern province of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold.

Here are some of the major evacuations in the seven-year Syrian conflict: - 2014 onwards: Homs - In May 2014 rebels leave their fiefdom in the devastated Old City of Homs, previously known as the "capital of the revolution", after a two-year siege.

This is the first regime-opposition deal on a rebel retreat since the war erupted in 2011, but it takes years to fully implement.

Between March and May 2017, thousands are evacuated from Waer, Homs's last rebel-held neighbourhood, allowing regime forces to retake full control of Syria's third-largest city.

In May 2018, some 34,500 people -- rebels and their families along with other civilians -- are evacuated from the provinces of Hama and Homs, giving the government full control of central Syria.

- 2016: Daraya - In August 2016, rebels quit Daraya in Damascus province following a deal that capped a brutal four-year regime siege and relentless bombardment.

The rebels and their families are taken to Idlib. The army retakes control of Daraya, which has for several months suffered from famine.

- 2016: Aleppo - Following a siege and a devastating offensive with crude barrel bombs, rockets and air strikes, Syria's army in December 2016 retakes full control of second city Aleppo.

The announcement comes after tens of thousands of rebels and civilians are bussed out under a deal sponsored by Iran, Russia and Turkey.

- 2017: Damascus districts - In May 2017 the regime secures a "reconciliation" deal for the rebel-held Damascus districts of Barzeh, Qabun and Tishrin, with several thousand civilians and fighters leaving for Idlib.

The regime retakes full control.

- 2018: Eastern Ghouta - After a relentless month-long offensive, Syria's government and its ally Russia secure evacuation deals in April 2018 to clear out Eastern Ghouta, a rebel stronghold near Damascus.

According to the Russian military, more than 160,000 people, including rebels and civilians, are evacuated from the region.

- 2018: Qalamun - In April, Syrian security forces regain control of another region outside the capital, Eastern Qalamun, as some 1,500 fighters and 3,500 civilians are transferred to Jarabulus, a rebel territory in the north.

- 2018: Southern Damascus - In May hundreds of rebels leave the towns of Yalda, Babila, and Beit Saham on the southern edge of Damascus.

More than 1,000 jihadists and their families are also evacuated from the Palestinian camp of Yarmuk and adjacent suburbs south of the capital after a pulverising assault that lasted nearly a month.

- 2018: Daraa - On July 15, several hundred rebels and civilians are evacuated from the southern city of Daraa, where the uprising against the government started in 2011, heading for northern Syria.

That comes after government forces are able to reclaim most rebel-held areas of the surrounding province following nearly three weeks of bombardment.