Syria regime retakes new region near Damascus

DAMASCUS, Apr 25 (AFP): Syria's regime retook control of Eastern Qalamun Wednesday after the last rebels and civilians were bussed out of the region near Damascus under an evacuation deal, state media said.

Rebels started leaving Eastern Qalamun on Saturday under an agreement between the opposition fighters and the Russia-backed regime.

It is the latest in a series of deals for areas previously held by rebels near Damascus as President Bashar al-Assad's regime seeks to seal its grip on the capital.

"The operation to bring terrorists with their families out of the areas of Eastern Qalamun has ended and the region is free of terrorism," state television said, using its usual term for rebels.

The evacuation deal included the areas of Al-Ruhayba, Jayrud and Al-Nasiriya in Eastern Qalamoun.