Syria ceasefire: Assad claims to regain control in Homs as hundreds of rebels leave al-Waer district

While the Syrian government claims it has regained control in the district, the opposition denies the government’s claim.

There is a rare ceasefire deal between the government and the opposition in Syria as rebel figters have started leaving the al-Waer district with their families. Hundreds of Syrian have left the last rebel-held area of Homs.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad managed to strike ceasefire deal after there was a major ground offensive by the Syrian army backed by Russian air strikes in the northern part of Homs.

According to witnesses, people left the area of al-Waer in Homs in 15 buses on Wednesday. Homs governor Talal al-Barazi said 300 rebel fighters as well as 400 members of their families were on board. According to al-Barazi, the fighters took light weapons with them.

According to Al Jazeera’s Marwan Bishara, both side have shown the willingness to “calm things down.” The senior political analyst said it was particularly applicable to those places where one side had the upper hand over the other.

"The general mood is; no one is winning in Syria, so let's - at least for the time being - settle down, take it easy, until we see if there is a serious transitional process possible," Bishara reported.

RT reported around 2,000 militants and their families were expected to leave Homs. Buses will take them to the north-western province of Idlib.

Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr reported the Assad regime would lift the siege and end military operations in al-Waer district as rebel fighters headed to opposition controlled areas further north.

"The government says the deal means al-Waer will return to state control, cleared of weapons, and fighters who chose to stay will have their legal status settled,” Khodr reported. “It also said that all rebels would leave the district within two months."

According to the Al Jazeera journalist, the opposition denies the government will control the district.

Video: YouTube/RT

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.