2289 People including 1058 Gunmen Leave al-Qaboun in Implementation of First Phase of Settlement Agreement

DAMASCUS- 2289 people including 1058 gunmen on Sunday left  al-Qaboun neighborhood announcing the end of the first phase of the settlement reached in the district, Bisher al-Sabban, Damascus Governor said.

Earlier in the day, the first group of militants has started to leave al-Qaboun neighborhood on the eastern outskirts of Damascus city after terrorist organizations surrendered to Syrian army.

 A number of vehicles started leaving al-Qaboun neighborhood at dawn on Sunday transporting hundreds of militants in a new step to end all armed manifestations in the neighborhood, which the terrorist organizations have used as a springboard to attack neighboring areas for over 4 years, SANA reported.

The evacuation of militants started 16 hours after military operations were suspended in the neighborhood following weeks of fierce battles between the units of the Syrian army and the terrorist organizations, which finally accepted the reconciliation agreement Saturday noon.

The reporter noted that many of the militants will be evacuated to Idleb, while others will have their legal status settled according to the laws and regulations in place.

The terrorist organizations in the neighborhood surrendered after the Syrian army controlled a strategic tunnel connecting al-Qaboun with Erbin in Eastern Ghouta, serving as the last tunnel linking Ghouta with the western part of Damascus-Homs highway.