https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/w...-war-77mjs6kck
Rebels in southwest
Syria have surrendered to the Assad regime, signalling the close of another chapter in the seven-year war. A spokesman for the Free Syrian Army confirmed today that a “reconciliation process” was under way in the west of Deraa province and in Quneitra, on the border with
the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Those fighters who do not want to lay down their weapons will be ferried by bus to the last non-Isis rebel stronghold, in Idlib, northern Syria. Others will “reconcile” with the regime, which in practice means joining the regime army.....
The outcome was regarded as inevitable once the United States informed the rebels in the area that they would be on their own if they chose to resist the regime advance. Hundreds of civilians and fighters were killed in a blitz by regime and Russian jets before the army began moving across the area. Hundreds of thousands of civilians fled towards the Jordanian and Israeli borders........
Israel said today it had continued to pour in humanitarian supplies to the tens of thousands of displaced civilians who have gathered near its border but has refused to give refuge to either fighters or civilians fleeing the fighting. Jordan has done the same.
The Assad regime, in a statement on state media, appeared to meet a key Israeli demand by saying troops would return to their positions as before 2011. The Israelis had threatened to attack regime forces if they occupied a demilitarised zone that stretches alongside the border fence. Russian military police are also said to be in the area.........