Beirut, Reuters, 18 March 2017 – Rebel fighters and their families began leaving their last bastion in the Syrian city of Homs on Saturday, state media and a Reuters witness said, under an evacuation deal with the government that is expected to be the largest of its kind.

The first two buses carrying rebels and their families left al-Waer district in the morning, heading for other rebel-held areas in northern Syria. Homs governor Talal Barazi told Reuters 400 to 500 fighters would evacuate on Saturday, along with their family members.

Under the agreement, more than 12,000 people would leave in batches over the coming weeks, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitoring group.

Syrian opposition fighters walk past regime forces as they arrive at a checkpoint, manned by regime forces and Red Crescent members, on the edge of the rebel-held Waer neighbourhood in the central city of Homs on March 18, 2017. (AFP)

 
Members of the Russian Military police stand guard as a bus drives past during the first phase of the Russian-supervised deal to complete the evacuation of fighters and civilians. (AFP)

Country Homs, Syria, 300 dpi Syrian opposition fighters and their families are searched as they arrive at a checkpoint, manned by regime forces and Red Crescent members, on the edge of the rebel-held Waer neighbourhood in the central city of Homs on March 18, 2017. (AFP)