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1st LD: 1st batch of rebels, families leave water-rich town near Damascus

Xinhua, January 29, 2017 Adjust font size:

A first batch of 160 people, including rebels and their families, evacuated the water-rich town of Ain Fijeh northwest of the capital Damascus toward the northern city of Idlib on Sunday, as part of a deal with the government, after the Syrian forces captured the town to restore water to thirsty Damascus, a military source told Xinhua.

The rebels and their families have gathered in the nearby towns of Deir Mikren, and Deir Qanun for their departure toward Idlib, a day after the Syrian army wrested control over Ain Fijeh town in the Barada Valley region.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the rebel evacuation is witnessing some delays because of the difficulty of their movement due to the heavy snow in that area.

Those departing along with their families are militants who have rejected to reconcile with the government, as many rebel group in that region accepted a deal with the government and will stay in their areas after their records are cleared and situation is settled.

Capturing Ain Fijeh is crucial for the Syrian government, as it contains the Ain Fijeh spring, the main water source feeding the capital's over five million people with water.

The rebels in that area cut off the water from Damascus on Dec. 22, prompting the army to unleash a wide-scale offensive with the help of the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

The battles were penetrated with a few pauses, in which efforts were being exerted to reach a deal with the rebels. However, all previous efforts had failed without achieving its intended goals, as the rebels of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front were reluctant to leave the area, insisting on rendering flat all efforts to defuse the tension in that area.

Meanwhile, maintenance workers entered the spring area early on Sunday to assess the damage, and embark on the reparation process, which officials say it would last a month.

Still, water authority officials said there will be emergency restoration to deliver water to Damascus within the next 24 hours. Endit