Late on March 23, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) imposed full control over the Harasta district east of the Syrian capital of Damascus follwing the departure of the last batch of Ahrar al-Sham fighters, who had headed towards the northern governorate of Idlib, according to the Hezbollah media wing.
The media outlet said that the last batch of fighters had included 111 commanders and leaders of Ahrar al-Sham. Right before their departure, 16 of Ahrar al-Sham commanders and fighters were killed when clashes erupted between them for unknown reasons.
The Ahrar al-Sham Movement was the first in the Eastern Ghouta region to accept an evacuation agreement on March 21, after the SAA and its allies had successfully besieged its stronghold, Harasta district, a week ago.
Soon, local observers expect to witness the wirthdrawal of the first batch of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Faylaq al-Rahman fighters from their positions in the western part of the Eastern Ghouta region towards Idlib governorate.
Syrian pro-government sources reported that HTS and Faylaq al-Rahman fighters had already withdrawn from Jobar district and had handed over most of their positions in Ayn Tarma to the SAA.
The last opposition force in the Eastern Ghouta region, Jaysh al-Islam, is yet to accept an evacuation agreement. However, local observers believe that it is a matter of days only before it accepts a similar agreement.