In July, Hezbollah began the operation to clear the Aarsal region bordering Syria from the al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat Fateh al-Sham terrorist group (previously known as the Nursa Front, banned in Russia). Its fighters, backed by Syrian government forces, have been able to make significant progress.
"It was decided to begin the trek of 350 Saraya Ahl al-Sham militants and dozens of families from Aarsal [refugee] camps toward Rabia in Eastern Qalamoun [in Syria]," the source said.
According to the International Organization for Migration, about 600,000 displaced Syrians returned home between January and July this year, with 84 percent having been displaced within Syria and the rest coming back from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.
SPUTNIK/MNA