Thousands of Syrian rebels and civilians to leave Eastern Qalamoun

Syrian rebels are due to leave some of the last enclaves outside Damascus Saturday, following a new deal between opposition groups and Russia.

The rebels will begin departing al-Ruhayba - a town in Eastern Qalamoun, which lies around 35 miles northeast of Damascus - for other opposition areas in Syria on Saturday.

"An agreement has been reached in the area of Eastern Qalamoun providing for terrorists to exit al-Ruhayba, Jayrud and al-Nasiriya starting from [Saturday]," state news agency SANA said late Friday, using its usual term for rebels.

Rebel fighters will hand over heavy and medium-size weapons and ammunition, before heading to northern Syria with small arms, SANA said.

Around 6,000 fighters will leave Qalamoun over the coming days for Jarabulus in Aleppo province and rebel-controlled Idlib province.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor relying on sources inside Syria, said buses have entered the Eastern Qalamoun area to deport fighters and civilians.

The Syrian regime have captured most opposition areas outside Damascus, following a series of brutal offensives that included heavy bombing and poison gas.

Most rebels and civilians agreed to leave their town following so-called evacuation deals, brokered by Russia, for Turkish or other opposition areas in northern Syria.

The once rebel stronghold of Eastern Ghouta will see tens of thousands of civilians leaving their homes for Idlib and Jarabalus in the coming days.

Another evacuation deal was agreed earlier this week which saw 5,000 people leave the town of Dumayr.

Regime forces have also bombarded the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp on the southern edge of Damascus. Islamic State group fighters are active in areas outside the camp.

Syria's war has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced around half the country, the majority of deaths and injuries caused by regime bombing of civilian areas.

Agencies contributed to this story.