In what seems to be a great victory for the government of Syria’s President Ashar al-Assad this Friday, as Syrian rebels and their families began evacuating the long-besieged neighborhood of Daraya, a suburb of Damascus.
The suburb was one of the first to challenge al Assad’s rule, and its surrender serves as a boost to the advancing Syrian army, lending hope of the capture of Aleppo, Syria’s largest city that is presently under rebel control.
Daraya has been blockaded by the regime forces since 2012, and, finally yielding in to the year’s long pressure, agreed to the deal late Thursday. According to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the agreement specifies that roughly 700 rebel fighters and their families will be allowed to move to the Idlib province, and another 5,000 residents will be relocated.
The suburb has been besieged and blockaded by government forces, with only one food delivery by the United Nations allowed to reach the district during this time. It has been held by a coalition of ultraconservative Islamic militias, including the Martyrs of Islam Brigade.
A symbol of the Syrian resistance, Daraya suffered heavily in this war. In August 2012, around 400 people lost their lives to a killing spree by troops and pro-government militiamen who stormed the suburb after heavy fighting and days of shelling, according to opposition activists. Daraya’s residents also accused the government of using starvation as a tactic of war.
Buses filled with “grief-stricken” people began pulling out of Daraya on Friday afternoon, according to activist Hussam Ayash. Footage showed at least two buses carrying men, women and children departing a neighborhood reduced to ruins by bombing and war.
“Frankly, the situation is painful — people are panicking. It is difficult to talk to people or even look at them in the face,” Ayash said. “I don’t want anyone to think that we wanted to leave — we were forced do to leave.”
The U.N. was not involved in constructing the agreement and said it was “extremely concerned” for the people of Daraya.
This development is part of al Assad’s slow but steady restoration of his lost power. “Idlib will be their graveyard,” said an anonymous Syrian army soldier. “This is a precious moment for every Syrian,” he added.
