Syrian army pushes south into Quneitra province

"We are on a bus with about 60 people, young people and families, about to leave and uproot our homes," said Maher Ali, 38, an activist who decided to leave his family rather than to risk his retribution.

The army was consolidating its control over a series of dominant heights that overlooked the Golan border, which had allowed Islamist rebels who had once controlled it An agreement brokered by Russian officers with rebels in the Quneitra region last week allows a safe pbadage for rebels opposed to the return to state sovereignty, while offering to others who decide to remain Russian guarantees against military encroachments. in their own localities, say the rebels.

It also allows the return of Syrian army brigades, which existed prior to the 2011 conflict, to the place where they were stationed near a demilitarist of 1974.

More of 2,500 people, including fighters of Islamist groups who rejected the deal, left Friday to the opposition areas in northern Syria

the Russian news agency Interfax, citing The Russian army, confirmed the same number were taken by bus to the Idlib area. The Syrian army wants full control over the province of Quneitra, where Israel is deeply concerned about the presence of Iran-backed militias in the area of ​​the death triangle. The region is a bastion of militias backed by Iran, including Hezbollah, according to Western intelligence sources.

Israel indicated that it would not interfere with the presence of the Syrian army in Quneitra as long as it moved away from the demilitarized zone. to intensify attacks along his border and elsewhere in Syria where he suspects forces backed by Iran.

A commander in the regional alliance that supports Assad said that the army's victory in southwestern Syria forced Israel to accept the return the old armistice lines of 1974.

"The Israelis were forced to surrender … the southern file is over in favor of the Syrian army," said the commander, saying the complete recovery of Quneitra was expected in the next few days.

Some rebels say that Russia, which led the military campaign and negotiated most of the surrender agreements and hired the military police to oversee its implementation, tried to repel the army and its militias backed by Iran commit excesses in the former cities held by the rebels.

Other phases of the agreement, including the handing over of arms and the entry of the Russian military police into some villages, should be implemented. According to rebel sources, tens of thousands of people have fled to the border since the Russian and Syrian aerial bombardment campaign, which the opposition described as scorched earth policy, began a month ago [19659005]. exerting pressure on the Syrian army to facilitate the return of many displaced persons and also asked the United Nations to send regular aid convoys to alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by the offensive , said officials of the UN.

said Moscow, which reached agreements with Israel and Jordan that allowed to go on the offensive, was eager to stabilize the border area to prove that its intervention in Syria sought a political settlement to the conflict seven years old.

Reuters