The Assad regime’s media say a surrender deal has been agreed for Douma, the center of besieged and bombarded East Ghouta near Syria’s capital Damascus, but the rebel faction in the town says talks have not been concluded.

State news agency SANA ran the breaking headline throughout Sunday that the capitulation had been accepeted by the Jaish al-Islam rebels. It claimed that about 1,200 fighters and their families from Failaq al-Rahman, another rebel faction, left Douma yesterday in the first forced removal.

Another report said the transfer was of wounded civilians and rebels to opposition territory in northwest Syria.

A Jaish al-Islam official denied a forced removal had been agreed, saying the regime claims were psychological warfare trying to force a capiultation: “Jaish al Islam has taken the decision to remain steadfast and the idea of leaving is not on the table.”

Opposition sources said Jaish al-Islam, in talks with Russian officials, is seeking an arrangement in which Russian military and the faction would each have a role in maintaining internal security, albeit under the Assad regime’s overall jurisdiction.

Officials of Hezbollah, the Lebanese group allied with the regime, said a regime-approved local council will run the town’s affair, while rebels lay down all but small arms. A Russian-led committee with representatives from Turkey, Iran, and Russia, will be responsible for the release of prisoners of war.

Douma is the last town standing in East Ghouta after a two-month pro-Assad offensive, enabled by Russian airstrikes which have defied both a Russia-rebel agreement for a “de-escalation zone” and UN calls for a ceasefire. More than 1,700 people have been killed, thousands wounded, and tens of thousands displaced.

See Besieged, Bombarded, Removed: Stories from East Ghouta

Claimed video of shabiha, pro-Assad militiamen, bringing looted goods from East Ghouta — such as washing machines and refrigerators — for sale in a market in the al-Assad suburb of Damascus: