DAMASCUS, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- A total of 200 people have returned to their homes in government-controlled towns in the countryside of Idlib province in northwestern Syria over the past 24 hours under a Russian supervision, a monitor group reported on Tuesday.
The people crossed the Abu al-Duhur crossing between rebel-held areas and government-controlled ones in the southeast
ern countryside of Idlib, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The watchdog group said the people have fled the raging battles that had flared several months ago during the Syrian army campaign in southern Idlib.
It added that more people are now waiting at the crossing to return to their homes under the guarantee of the Russian side.
Those who are returning came from areas under the control of the rebels, including the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.
Idlib has emerged as the main destination and stronghold for the rebels fleeing other parts of Syria through deals or surrender.
Several Turkey-backed rebel groups are located in the province near the Turkish border.
After sweeping progress of the army, Idlib is now the last major rebel stronghold in Syria amid reports of either an imminent military action or a settlement akin to other former rebel-held areas where rebels agreed to surrender their weapons to the army.
