DAMASCUS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Syrians returned to their homes Wednesday in government-controlled areas in the southern countryside of Idlib Province in northwestern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.
The people crossed the Abu al-Duhur crossing between rebel-held areas and government-controlled ones in the southern countryside of Idlib, which is the last major rebel stronghold in Syria.
It's the latest in a series of civilian batches that started returning to their homes as the situation in Idlib has started cooling down.
Earlier this month, Turkey, a backer of the opposition, and Russia, which is the key backer of the Syrian government, agreed to establish a demilitarized zone between the Syrian forces and the rebels in Idlib.
The deal averted Idlib a wide-scale military offensive by the Syrian army.
According to the deal, the rebels would withdraw from the demilitarized zone along with heavy weapons.
The establishment of the demilitarized zone is set for Oct. 15.
Earlier in the day, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said none of the rebel groups in the planned demilitarized zone have withdrawn from that area, contrary to some reports that claimed otherwise.
Some al-Qaida-linked groups have already declared they would not abide by the deal.
Throughout the more than seven-year-long war, Idlib has emerged as the main destination and stronghold for the rebels fleeing other parts of Syria through deals or surrender.
The al-Qaida-linked groups, including the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, otherwise referred to as the Nusra Front, are the most powerful among other rebel factions in Idlib.
