Syrian Rebels Begin Leaving The Besieged Region Of Eastern Ghouta

Reuters: Assad closer to Ghouta victory, as some rebels prepare to quit

BEIRUT/DAMASCUS (Reuters) - The Syrian government moved closer to ending rebel resistance in eastern Ghouta as civilians streamed out of one of its besieged, bomb-battered towns on Thursday and insurgents prepared to surrender another.

The army assault on eastern Ghouta, an area of towns and farmland just outside Damascus, has been one of the most intense in Syria’s seven-year-old war, killing more than 1,500 people in a relentless bombardment with war planes, shells and rockets.

An army officer interviewed on state television urged rebels who had not yet negotiated a deal to evacuate eastern Ghouta to quit. “Death is coming for you if you do not surrender,” he said.

It broadcast footage of a long line of parked buses on a highway in the town of Harasta with crowds of people standing alongside. Syrian army soldiers looked on.

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WNU editor: The end game for this battle is near.

More News On Syrian Rebels Begin Leaving The Besieged Region Of Eastern Ghouta

Syria war: First rebels to leave defeated Eastern Ghouta town -- BBC
Syrian rebels begin fleeing Eastern Ghouta under new safety deal -- UPI
Syrian rebels 'forced' to leave besieged town in eastern Ghouta enclave -- Asian Age/AP
Hundreds of rebels begin evacuating Syria's Eastern Ghouta -- CNN
Civilians flood out of Syria's Douma: monitor, webcam -- Business Insider/Reuters
Syrian rebels to evacuate Ghouta as 19 civilians killed in fresh strikes -- Times of Israel
Tens of thousands leave Eastern Ghouta malnourished, thirsty and in fear, now in overcrowded reception sites -- NRC