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BEIRUT – The Syrian regime and its ally, Russia, took control of an important border crossing with Jordan on Friday in an agreement with anti-government rebels that also included the surrender of four neighboring towns in the south West of the country. Forces took control of the Nassib border crossing and waved the Syrian flag there, according to Syrian state media and affiliated agencies of Hezbollah, another ally of the regime. A rebel spokesman and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in the UK, said the Russian military police had taken control of the regions
. It is the latest ceasefire agreement that the Assad regime has concluded since it launched a military assault last month in its campaign to take over the entire country.
The details of Friday's agreement were not clear. the border. Some opposition leaders said specific provisions were still being discussed with the Russians, who are negotiating with the rebels on behalf of the Syrian regime.
Having witnessed the death and mass destruction of other rebel strongholds besieged by the Syrian government and Russia, the rebels in southwestern Syria have been quicker to capitulate since the beginning of the war. Offensive three weeks ago
. in individual cities have entered into their own agreements to give control to the regime.
Although the opposition dishonored Russia to intervene directly on behalf of the Syrian regime in 2015 and to conduct air strikes on rebel areas, it preferred to negotiate directly with Russian interlocutors rather than with the Russian. 39, with the representatives of the president.
Bashar al-Assad
More than 320,000 people were displaced by the regime's offensive, fleeing to the borders with Israel-occupied Jordan and the Golan Heights, according to the United Nations. But Syrian neighbors have refused to allow Syrian refugees to cross.
At the beginning of the government's offensive in the southwest, Jordan and the United States, allied with the opposition, told the rebels that they would not come. They lobbied for them to enter into an agreement with the Assad regime.
Jordan in particular was eager for the Syrian government to re-establish control of the Nassib border post so that it could be reopened for trade. Last month, anti-bailout protests in Jordan led to the resignation of the prime minister, and Jordanian officials said they hoped the reopening of the crossing would boost the country's economy.
Before its capture by the rebels in 2015, important commercial gateway linking the economies of several Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. All the trade through the passage has since ceased.
-Suha Ma & # 39; ayeh in Amman and Nazih Osseiran in Beirut contributed to this article.
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