Section, SyriaAn uneasy peace prevailed in a city in southern Syria on Sunday as the opposition-held half returned to control of the state under a surrender agreement, AFP said journalists on a tour organized by the government.
Section The province and capital of the same name, the cradle of Syria’s insurgency, returned to government control in 2018 under a previous ceasefire backed by government ally Russia.
But the rebels stayed south of the city called Daraa al-Balad, and in the summer they clashed with government forces on its outskirts in an attempt to retake the area.
The Moscow-brokered truce has seen dozens of opposition fighters leave the city over the past few weeks and government forces return to the area since Wednesday.
Inside Daraa al-Balad on Sunday, AFP reporters watched as bulldozers clear away rubble among buildings bearing the scars of war.
Syrian and Russian flags were hoisted at many places.
Guns were silenced, but the areas visited were largely devoid of civilians, and some people riding motorbikes refused to speak to the media.
A military source told AFP: “Nine outposts have been set up along and inside Daraa al-Balad.”
Under the deal, fighters agreeing to a ceasefire are invited to give up their guns and sign up to live in the city as part of a so-called reconciliation process.
“The process is on to determine the position of the fighters who want to do so after handing over the weapons,” the source said.
“There is an alert peace and we await the completion of the reconciliation steps,” the source said.
“The state would prefer not to resort to a military solution.”
NS United Nations and rights group Amnesty International Dara al-Balad has warned of dwindling supplies inside in recent weeks, after government forces tightened noose around the area.
But a source in provincial officials told AFP that two bakeries had reopened and work was underway to set up several medical treatment posts.
The United Nations has said more than 38,000 people have fled the southern part of the city due to fighting that has been going on since July.
Section The province and capital of the same name, the cradle of Syria’s insurgency, returned to government control in 2018 under a previous ceasefire backed by government ally Russia.
But the rebels stayed south of the city called Daraa al-Balad, and in the summer they clashed with government forces on its outskirts in an attempt to retake the area.
The Moscow-brokered truce has seen dozens of opposition fighters leave the city over the past few weeks and government forces return to the area since Wednesday.
Inside Daraa al-Balad on Sunday, AFP reporters watched as bulldozers clear away rubble among buildings bearing the scars of war.
Syrian and Russian flags were hoisted at many places.
Guns were silenced, but the areas visited were largely devoid of civilians, and some people riding motorbikes refused to speak to the media.
A military source told AFP: “Nine outposts have been set up along and inside Daraa al-Balad.”
Under the deal, fighters agreeing to a ceasefire are invited to give up their guns and sign up to live in the city as part of a so-called reconciliation process.
“The process is on to determine the position of the fighters who want to do so after handing over the weapons,” the source said.
“There is an alert peace and we await the completion of the reconciliation steps,” the source said.
“The state would prefer not to resort to a military solution.”
NS United Nations and rights group Amnesty International Dara al-Balad has warned of dwindling supplies inside in recent weeks, after government forces tightened noose around the area.
But a source in provincial officials told AFP that two bakeries had reopened and work was underway to set up several medical treatment posts.
The United Nations has said more than 38,000 people have fled the southern part of the city due to fighting that has been going on since July.
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