Refugees from Lebanon camps arrive at edge of Syrian rebel zone
BEIRUT, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Buses carrying Syrians who left Lebanon after a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Nusra militants on Thursday reached the crossing point into the rebel-held zone where they will settle, a military media unit run by Hezbollah reported.
Some 7,000 Syrians, including both Nusra militants and refugees left the Arsal district on the border between Lebanon and Syria as part of a ceasefire deal that will also involve the handover of captured Hezbollah fighters.
A convoy of more than 100 buses arrived on Thursday at Saan in Hama province, where they will cross front lines from government territory, the Hezbollah media unit said. The buses left Arsal on Wednesday evening.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that the convoy had arrived in the Hama countryside and that preparations had begun to transfer them to rebel territory.
After some buses have crossed, five remaining Hezbollah captives will be handed over by rebels at the same location, the Hezbollah media unit said.
Hezbollah is an important ally of the Syrian government in its civil war against rebel groups that include the Nusra Front.
The ceasefire took effect last week, just days after Shi'ite Hezbollah and the Lebanese army launched an offensive to drive Nusra Front and other Sunni militants from their last foothold in the border area between Lebanon and Syria.
The transfer of militants along with large numbers of refugees has echoed deals struck within Syria in which Damascus has shuttled rebels and civilians to Idlib and other opposition areas.
Such evacuations have helped President Bashar al-Assad recapture several rebel bastions over the past year and are criticised by the opposition as amounting to the forced transfer of populations seen as sympathetic to the opposition. (Reporting By Angus McDowall; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
