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Evacuation of Syrian Rebels From Western City Is Delayed Evacuation of Syrian Rebels From Western City Is Delayed
(4 months later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — A planned evacuation of fighters from rebel-held parts of Homs, Syria, was delayed on Saturday, activists said, though a cease-fire was still holding in the city. BEIRUT, Lebanon — A planned evacuation of fighters from rebel-held parts of Homs, Syria, was delayed on Saturday, activists said, though a cease-fire was still holding in the city.
Rebels in Homs agreed on Friday to surrender territory in exchange for safe passage to other opposition-held areas. The agreement came after a blockade by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces caused widespread hunger in rebel-held parts of the city, which have been hit relentlessly by government artillery and airstrikes.Rebels in Homs agreed on Friday to surrender territory in exchange for safe passage to other opposition-held areas. The agreement came after a blockade by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces caused widespread hunger in rebel-held parts of the city, which have been hit relentlessly by government artillery and airstrikes.
A local activist, Samer al-Homsi, and three other activists said it was not clear why Syrian forces were not allowing the first phase of several hundred rebel fighters to leave.A local activist, Samer al-Homsi, and three other activists said it was not clear why Syrian forces were not allowing the first phase of several hundred rebel fighters to leave.
One Homs-based activist said the rebels were gathering wounded fighters so they could be taken out first, beginning Sunday. Others said they believed that the delays were a result of a plan to allow food and aid into two blockaded areas — one blockaded by rebels in the northern province of Aleppo, and another by pro-government forces near Homs.One Homs-based activist said the rebels were gathering wounded fighters so they could be taken out first, beginning Sunday. Others said they believed that the delays were a result of a plan to allow food and aid into two blockaded areas — one blockaded by rebels in the northern province of Aleppo, and another by pro-government forces near Homs.
Activists also said a prisoner exchange deal between rebels and Mr. Assad’s forces in central and northern Syria could be delaying the evacuation.Activists also said a prisoner exchange deal between rebels and Mr. Assad’s forces in central and northern Syria could be delaying the evacuation.
Homs was once known as the capital of the Syrian revolution for its fierce opposition to Mr. Assad’s rule.Homs was once known as the capital of the Syrian revolution for its fierce opposition to Mr. Assad’s rule.
Also on Saturday, Syrian state television said rebel mortar fire on a government-held neighborhood in Aleppo had killed at least 12 people. And activists said the death toll from car bombs that struck two small villages in the central province of Hama on Friday had grown to 23, including 14 children.Also on Saturday, Syrian state television said rebel mortar fire on a government-held neighborhood in Aleppo had killed at least 12 people. And activists said the death toll from car bombs that struck two small villages in the central province of Hama on Friday had grown to 23, including 14 children.
That number is likely to increase further, said Rami Abdul Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain that has a network of contacts in Syria. The bombs exploded in the villages of Jadreen and Humayri, about 11 miles apart. It was not clear whether the two attacks were coordinated.That number is likely to increase further, said Rami Abdul Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group based in Britain that has a network of contacts in Syria. The bombs exploded in the villages of Jadreen and Humayri, about 11 miles apart. It was not clear whether the two attacks were coordinated.
State-run television also reported the bombings on Friday.State-run television also reported the bombings on Friday.
The three-year-old conflict in Syria has killed more than 150,000 people, activists say. More than 2.5 million people have fled the violence to find shelter in neighboring countries, and millions more are displaced within the country.The three-year-old conflict in Syria has killed more than 150,000 people, activists say. More than 2.5 million people have fled the violence to find shelter in neighboring countries, and millions more are displaced within the country.