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Hundreds of militants hand over weapons to Syrian government forces

Militants gather on the outskirts of the northern Syrian city of al-Bab on February 1, 2017. (Photos by Reuters)

Hundreds of foreign-backed militants have handed over their weapons to Syrian government forces in a strategic area northwest of Damascus.

The militants surrendered their weapons, including mortar launchers and various kinds of explosive shells, in the village of Dayr Qanun in Wadi Barada valley, where a major spring supplies most of the capital's water.

On January 29, Syrian troops established full control over the strategic valley and agreed to the evacuation of hundreds of militants from the area as part of a reconciliation agreement between armed opposition groups and the government.

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Civilians and militants that were evacuated from Wadi Barada valley near Damascus rest upon arrival in the militant-controlled Qal'at al-Madiq town in Hama province, Syria, on January 30, 2017. 

Under the deal, militants could either choose to stay after giving up their weapons or be sent to Idlib, considered the last major stronghold of militants in northern Syria.

Fresh military gains across Syria

Meanwhile, Syrian army forces recaptured several areas on the outskirts of Aleppo and Homs from the Daesh terrorist group and inflicted heavy losses on the extremists over the past 24 hours.

The Russian coordination center based in Syria's Hmeimim airbase said the Syrian army liberated Umm al-Rumman village east of Dumayr city in the northern countryside of Damascus on Wednesday.

A video released online showed that members of the Syrian army took control of Umm al-Rumman after they advanced from al-Badia cement factory southeast of the village.

A Syrian army unit also carried out strikes against Daesh terrorists to the east of al-Sein airport in the northeastern countryside of Damascus, killing a number of terrorists and destroying a tank and a vehicle equipped with a machinegun used by the terrorists.

Syrian army units also targeted Daesh positions near the city of Dayr al-Zawr.

Syria has been battling foreign-backed militancy for nearly six years. Over the past few months, the Syrian army has made significant gains against terrorists wreaking havoc in the country.


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