A small group of Syrian civilians on Monday left the rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta just outside of Damascus, using a corridor established by the Syrian army amid the military’s gains that have effectively divided the area into three parts. State-run Syrian TV broadcast footage showing a group of men, women and children it says left the town of Madyara after it was captured by Syrian troops on Sunday. The TV showed several women carrying babies and welcoming the Syrian army, and claiming the rebels were preventing civilians from leaving eastern Ghouta. The largest rebel group in eastern Ghouta, the Army of Islam, said Monday it agreed with Russian forces to evacuate the wounded from the enclave. The Army of Islam said the wounded will be evacuated in stages but made no mention if they are rebel fighters or civilians.

Source: Egypt Independent March 12, 2018 12:33 UTC