- Title: Thousands to leave Lebanon-Syria border zone under deal
- Date: 1st August 2017
- Summary: JUROUD FLITA, SYRIA (AUGUST 1, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MOUNTAINOUS AREA VARIOUS OF BUSES ARRIVING AT JUROUD FLITA BUSES / MOUNTAINS BUSES ARRIVING
- Embargoed: 15th August 2017 11:39
- Keywords: Syrian militants refugees Lebanon's border region rebel territory Syria exchange prisoners ceasefire Sunni Muslim militants Shi'ite Hezbollah
- Location: JUROUD FLITA, SYRIA
- City: JUROUD FLITA, SYRIA
- Country: Syria
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016SBS0G7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Convoys of buses arrived on Tuesday (August 1) to transfer thousands of Syrian militants and refugees from Lebanon's border region into rebel territory in Syria in exchange for Hezbollah prisoners.
Under a local ceasefire between the Sunni Muslim militants and the Shi'ite Hezbollah, about 9,000 fighters and their relatives were to leave.
The departure was delayed from Monday for "logistical" reasons including having to wait for the rest of a total of 98 coaches to arrive from the Syrian side, a Hezbollah media unit said.
The deal includes the departure of all Nusra Front militants from Lebanon's border region around the town of Arsal, along with any civilians in nearby refugee camps who wish to go.
Last week, Hezbollah took most of the mountainous zone of Juroud Arsal in a joint offensive with the Syrian army to drive Nusra militants from their last frontier foothold. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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