Last majority opposition area now in Idlib Province in northwest

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Rebels, their families, and other civilians have begun their departure from Quneitra Province in southwest Syria, near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, after a capitulation agreement.

Buses moved rebels and civilians, fearing regime control and punishment, to Idlib Province — the last major opposition-held area in Syria — in the northwest of the country. People also left villages on motorcycles, heavily-laden cars, and flatbed trucks, possibly for transfer to buses.

Under the surrender, regime security forces and Russian military police will control the territory. Rebels left behind all weapons except light arms.

Pro-Assad forces, enabled by Russian bombing, launched their offensive on June 19 in neighboring Daraa Province and then Quneitra. The opposition is now in a pocket including the towns of Nawa and Tasil in southern Daraa Province — an area under heavy bombardment which has killed and injured more than 165 people this week.

About 320,000 people were displaced by the offensive. The UN agency for refugees, UNHCR, says tens of thousands have now returned to their homes. Many others remain near the Golan Heights and on the Jordanian border, with Israel and Jordan denying entry.

France Sends Medical Aid to Regime-Controlled East Ghouta

France will send 44 tons of medical aid, clothes, and other items to regime-controlled East Ghouta, near Damascus, after an agreement with Russia.

A Russian plane is taking the aid from France to Russia’s Hmeimim airbase in western Syria on Saturday. It fulfils an agreement between French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in talks held since May.

In April pro-Assad forces reoccupied East Ghouta, held by the opposition since 2012 after intense regime and Russian conventional attacks, bombing, and use of chemical weapons. The area had endured a regime siege of more than five years in which almost assistance was blocked by Damascus.

With destruction and the loss of about 75% of Syrian GDP in the 88-month conflict, Russia is trying to get European countries and the US to provide aid and the funds for reconstruction. Putin referred to the effort in his Helsinki Summit with Donald Trump on Monday.

The shipment for East Ghouta aims to help 500 seriously wounded people and another 15,000 with minor ailments. Its delivery could open the way for regime approval of UN assistance, which continues to be hindered by the regime as it tries to reassert control over the area.