Seventh Batch of Gunmen, who Refused Reconciliation, Leaving Homs’ al-Waer Neighborhood

  HOMS, (ST)- The seven batch of gunmen, some with their families, started on Sunday to leave al-Waer neighborhood in the city of Homs in accordance with the reconciliation agreement reached in the district.

The process, which is being carried out under the supervision of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the Syrian internal security forces and the Russian military Police,  is a step to end the presence of armed groups and weapon in al-Waer and to pave the way for the return of the state’s institutions to the neighborhood.

 SANA reporter in Homs said that eight buses with 100 gunmen and some of their families members on board get out of the neighborhood and headed towards Idleb.  Those gunmen have refused to join the reconciliation agreement, said the reporter.

Homs Governor Talal Barazi told SANA that the process of implementing the reconciliation agreement continues according to the specified program without obstacles.

“400 gunmen and some of their families’ members, who refused to join reconciliation, will leave al-Waer neighborhood today,” Barazi said, expecting that the last batch of al-Waer gunmen will leave the district in mid May.

A large number of locals, who were displaced from al-Waer because of terrorism, are coming back to their houses thanks to the settlement and reconciliation agreement, he added.

The governor pointed out that electricity, water and communication maintenance teams are working in the surroundings of al-Waer district and they will move to inside the neighborhood after the last batch of gunmen leave as to fix the damage caused to the infrastructure there.

He stressed that the state is the guarantor for restoring security and stability nationwide.

Last Monday, the six batch of gunmen and some of their families’ members, who refuse to join reconciliation,  left al-Waer neighborhood. Hundreds of gunmen didn’t  leave to Idleb, but to chose to stay and settle their legal status as to return to normal life.

Al-Waer is the last bastion of armed groups in Homs city and by evacuating the gunmen from the district the entire city will be empty of armed groups and weapons.

Hamda Mustafa