Syrian Forces End Ceasefire by Bombing Ghouta During Evacuation

Despite the declaration of a ceasefire in Syria, an airstrike hit a rebel-held enclave in Ein Terma, Zamalka and Hezzeh Friday.

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The airstrikes took place early morning in eastern Ghouta after the midnight ceasefire deadline had passed. No fatalities or injuries have been reported.

The truce was called Thursday by rebel forces after a series of fierce government military attacks on an underground shelter which killed at least 37 people.

According to the terms of the ceasefire, rebel forces agreed to evacuate the city of Harasta, surrendering the town in exchange for safe passage and pardon for civilians who chose to remain.

"Due to the major escalation with internationally banned weapons accompanied by international silence and inaction, and the intensification of the mass killing by Russia and the militias of Assad and Iran… an agreement has been reached after direct negotiations with the Russians," said Waiel Olwan, spokesman for rebel group Faylaq al-Rahman.

Those who choose to stay on will not face prosecution, said Wael Alwan, spokesman for the Failaq al-Rahman group there. The group will also release captured government soldiers. So far, 3,500 political prisoners have been released, Central Military Media reports.

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The United Nations estimates over 50,000 people have fled besieged areas of eastern Ghouta in the past two weeks, with 150,000 abandoning the city due to military attacks. An additional 7,000 civilians and fighters are expected to evacuate Idlib Saturday morning, state news outlets report.

"Other civilians are leaving as well, people who were involved in opposition activities like media activists, medics, civil defense volunteers," said Al Jazeera correspondent Zeina Khodr, explaining that they are often considered terrorists by state authorities and as such are at risk.

"The Syrian government lays siege to an area, bombs it into submission, starves the people and gives them the choice to leave, starve or die,"  Khodr said.

The arrangement is one of two evacuation agreements reached between the warring parties, another being the northwest province of Idlib in an effort to administer to the sick and wounded in these sections and slow the Russian-backed seven-year civil war which has killed more than 1,600 Syrians.