Daraya Completely Evacuated of Weapons, Militants

Damascus Countryside- The second phase of the implementation of the agreement which was reached to evacuate Daraya city in western Ghouta of weapons and gunmen ended on Saturday in preparation for the return of locals to it, according to SANA..

Speaking from inside Daraya, SANA reporter said that by ending the second phase, Daraya will be completely free of terrorists after evacuating the rest of locals to makeshift centers in Harjjaleh, in addition to evacuating the rest of gunmen with their families to Idleb countryside.

 The reporter noted that the gunmen had set fire to many of their headquarters and positions inside Daraya before their departure, just like their fellow militants did yesterday.

The positions set ablaze contained computers and communication devices, proving that the gunmen had external affiliations, according to the reporter.

Tens of buses had entered the city earlier today to evacuate more people and gunmen.

Those buses transporting families have already left the city towards the makeshift centers, while others transporting gunmen and their family members have headed towards Idleb city, after being searched at army checkpoints as they cannot take any medium or heavy weapons with them.

Later, Governor of Damascus Countryside Alaa Ibrahim toured some neighborhoods in Daraya city and inspected the situation there, telling the reporters that engineering teams will be sent to the city to set up plans for reconstruction there.

The governor noted that the evacuated families are being located to a makeshift center in al-Hirjalleh village in al-Kiswa area to the south of Damascus.

The center includes 724 housing places, 300 of which are fully equipped and prepared, according to Ibrahim.

The governor said that the Sub-Committee for Relief in Damascus Countryside provided all needed supplies for locals of Daraya in Herjjaleh in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in addition to providing health care and other necessary services.

The governor pointed out that Daraya locals, who were besieged for years, are now under the protection of the Syrian state, adding that during the coming days, service infrastructure which was destroyed in the city by terrorism will be gradually rehabilitated in preparation for the return of locals to their houses

On Friday, a field commander told reporters that a number of gunmen wanted to have their legal status settled, noting that the Syrian government has agreed to this in accordance to the laws and regulations.

For his part, head of media department in the political administration Brigadier General Sameer Suleiman said in a statement to reporters that the achievements of the Syrian Arab Army in Daraya come within the framework of the achievements made on the ground in the war against terrorism.

This achievement is a new proof of the ability and will of the Syrian Army that is determined to defeat terrorism completely and restore security and stability to every part of the Syrian territories in addition to the ability of the Syrian people who love life and who are able to achieve all objectives, Suleiman added.

On Friday and Saturday, all locals were evacuated of Daraya to makeshift centers in Herjjaleh, while 700 gunmen were evacuated with their families to Idleb countryside after handing over their heavy and medium weapons to the army units which carried out recently intensive operations against dens of terrorists who were forced to surrender.