SYRIA REBELS GIVE UP GHOUTA IN MAJOR WIN FOR THE REGIME

BEIRUT — Rebels in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta surrendered their heavy weapons and their leader left the enclave, a monitor said on Thursday, signalling the end of one of the bloodiest battles of Syria’s seven-year war.

The Syrian flag was raised above the central mosque in Douma, the site of an alleged chemical attack that sparked outrage and threats of Western military action.

US President Donald Trump was mulling his options and British Prime Minister Theresa May called an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday, as the Syrian army braced for Western strikes, hiding assets and deserting key buildings. Syrian regime forces had yet to take over Douma but the rebels it battled there since the launch of a blistering offensive in mid-February no longer appeared in a position to fight back.

Jaish Al Islam, which has controlled Eastern Ghouta’s main town for years, had balked at a Russian-brokered deal like those that saw other factions bussed to northern Syria.

But the group seemed to have caved in on Wednesday, when its fighters handed over their heavy weapons and their leader, Issam Buwaydani, boarded a convoy out of Ghouta with thousands of other fighters and their relatives.

“Jaish Al Islam fighters handed over their heavy weapons to Russian military police in the town of Douma on Wednesday,” said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group. Douma residents said that Syria’s national red, white and black flag with two green stars was raised on Wednesday above the main mosque, which was also used as the office of the town’s opposition-run council.

But a dispute subsequently erupted, shots were fired and the flag was taken down, the residents said.

Russian military police, who had started deploying in the town as part of a deal that would allow some rebels to disarm and stay in Douma, also left after the incident, the residents said.

Simultaneously carrying out air strikes, brokering talks and supervising humanitarian operations, Russia was the key player in an assault that left at least 1,600 civilians dead. —