Over 2,000 Syrians evacuated from battle zones near Damascus

A new batch of around 600 people were evacuated Sunday from hotspots east of Damascus, bringing the total number of evacuated over the past 24 hours to 2,100, a well-informed source told Xinhua.

The fresh evacuation is part of the government troops renewed efforts to secure a safe exit for the besieged people in the eastern al-Ghouta sprawling suburb, mainly from the suburb of Douma.

The military efforts come in coordination with the National Reconciliation Ministry, the source said, adding that a number of armed rebels, who opted to surrender to the government troops, were among the evacuees.

A day earlier, sources and the Syrian national TV said 1,500 people were secured out of Douma on Saturday alone.

Those people were taken to refugee shelters inside the capital, the source said, adding that the armed rebels who also fled Douma took the move to surrender after engaging with battles against other rebel groups inside that hotbed town.

The people were transported by Syrian military armored vehicles into safe areas in Damascus, as shown by video footages obtained by Xinhua on Sunday.

The Minister of National Reconciliation Ali Haidar told Xinhua in a recent interview that the authorities are evacuating those with special humanitarian issues, stressing that the eastern Ghouta should not be emptied of its residents.

Throughout the country's long-running conflict, Douma and the eastern Ghouta in general have emerged as the main stronghold of an array of jihadist groups in eastern Damascus.

The Syrian troops have been engaged in intense battles in the nearby neighborhood of Jobar, whose recapture would pave the way for the Syrian troops to advance toward Douma. Enditem