17:13 – Syria: beginning of the evacuation of the rebels of Deraa, ex-stronghold of the revolt

Several hundred Syrian rebels and civilians from the southern city of Deraa were evacuated Sunday to the north of the country, more than seven years after the beginning of the popular uprising against the regime of Bashar al-Assad in this symbolic region , now under the purse of Damascus.

This evacuation operation, provided for in the agreement reached on July 6 between the regime and rebel groups through Russia, the great ally of Damascus, began around mid-day. "Several hundred fighters and some of their relatives boarded 15 buses that left" the meeting place, an AFP correspondent reported.

"The majority of the evacuees are fighters, against only a few families, "said the correspondent.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH) reported on Sunday the evacuation of 430 people between civilians and fighters from the city of Deraa and the province, much less than the 1.400 provided for in

"There are still empty buses in the city and we do not know if there will be more evacuations," said the director of the Observatory, Rami Abdel Rahman.

confirmed shortly after midday "the beginning of the operation of transfer of the terrorists who refused the (political) settlement from the city center of Deraa towards the north of the country", using the terminology of the regime to designate all the rebels

At the bus parking area, women and children, part of the procession, carried bags and suitcases. "The men were searched by (Russian) soldiers, while the women were inspected by women members of the Syrian regime," according to the AFP correspondent.

Buses arriving in the morning were stationed on the Sajna Road, which connects areas formerly held by the opposition to those that were already under the control of the regime.

This former demarcation line was opened there A few days after embankment evacuation by regime forces.

According to OSDH director Rami Abdel Rahman, the buses then headed for the outskirts of the city, where a new search was conducted. was planned before the final green light to reach the province of Idleb.

This transfer concerns rebels and civilians who refused the agreement of "reconciliation" of July 6, which is tantamount to a capitulation for groups

Russian negotiators initially ruled out any possibility of fighters leaving in the first rounds of negotiations, before yielding on this point after bitter talks.

The agreement stipulates in parallel the disarmament of rebel groups and a return of state institutions in areas beyond the control of Damascus.

– Disarmament –

High symbol of the revolt against Bashar al-Assad in 2011, the province of Deraa fell into the purse of the regime after three weeks of a lightning offensive that bent the rebels and killed 150 civilians.

Parallel to their evacuation, the Syrian rebels continue Sunday the operation of surrender of their heavy weapons in the city of Deraa, in accordance with the agreement sponsored by Moscow.

The official Sana agency said that "armed groups in the center of (the city) Deraa continue to deliver heavy weapons to the Syrian army ", publishing in support photos of tanks and guns that belong to the rebels.

The handover of heavy and medium artillery should pave the way for total control by the government forces of this chief town, where a national flag has already been hoisted on Thursday as a victory.

Sana also reports the release by the rebels of five men they handed over to the government authorities.

– Qunitra under fire –

On another front, the regime's forces began bombarding intensively on Sunday before the dawn the strategic province of Quneitra, next to that of Deraa, taking control of a first locality, according to the OSDH.

This sensitive province, controlled to 70% by the rebels, adjoins the line of demarcation on the plateau Golan, mostly occupied and annexed by Israel.

"The bombings have not stopped since 3:00 am (00:00 GMT)," Abdel Rahman told AFP.

"At least four air strikes and some 850 missiles and shells have been launched against several localities and fierce fighting continues on the ground, "he added, reporting the deaths of 18 regime fighters, including three officers, and 13 rebels.

This operation could augur well of the beginning of the battle of Quneitra, according to the director of the OSDH, risks having humanitarian fallout, while the consequences of the offensive against Deraa are still present.

"Despite the return of tens of thousands of displaced to Deraa, (…) 160,000 people are still in Qouneitra, "said the UN office for humanitarian affairs (Ocha) in a statement.

In Damascus, Hossein Jaberi-Ansari, a high Advisor to the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, was received Sunday by President Bashar al-Assad, hailing the progress of the regime in Deraa, according to the Syrian presidency.