Three populated localities in Syria’s southwestern de-escalation zone have joined the ceasefire agreement, Major General Alexei Tsygankov, chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of conflicting sides in Syria, told reporters on Saturday.
"Three populated localities - Umm Walad, Atbaa and Jebb - have joined the ceasefire regime in the southwestern de-escalation zone. At least 250 militants stopped resisting to government forces and voluntarily decided to verify their status," the general said. "They handed over 118 pieces of weapons, three vehicles and a lot of various ammo."
In the past 24 hours, more than 220 Syrians have come back to their homes in the Homs province and Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus.
"A total of 70,749 residents of Eastern Ghouta and 106,691residents of the Homs province have returned from camps for refugees and internally displaced persons," Tsygankov said.
The Russian reconciliation center oversees reconstruction of facilities in Huash-al-Hanun, Damascus province.
Ceasefire violations by illegal armed groups have been registered in the Aleppo and Latakia provinces over 24 hours, he said.
Syrian de-escalation zones
In accordance with a decision made by Russia, Iran and Turkey - the guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire - in May 2017, de-escalation zones were set up in Syria. In mid-September, the guarantor countries announced the establishment of all the four de-escalation zones.
De-escalation zones include the Idlib Province, some parts of its neighboring areas in the Latakia, Hama and Aleppo Provinces north of the city of Homs, Eastern Ghouta, as well as the Daraa and al-Quneitra Provinces in southern Syria.
Icmal.Az
