BEIRUT—Syrian rebels resumed their evacuation from Aleppo on Wednesday, paving the way for the government to reassume control of the war-torn city.
The Syrian opposition agreed to surrender their last foothold in the city last week, marking the most significant victory for President Bashar Assad since an uprising against his family’s four-decade rule swept the country in 2011.
It followed a punishing offensive by the government and its regional allies that drove out tens of thousands of civilians from the east of the city.
The government agreed to allow the remaining residents—fighters and civilians—to leave as part of the agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey in Ankara last week.
An Associated Press TV crew said four buses from the opposition’s last foothold in the city arrived to the western Aleppo countryside Wednesday, marking the first successful evacuation in over 24 hours.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 60 buses are expected to evacuate some 3,000 fighters and civilians from the opposition’s last foothold in the city. It is the last convoy set to leave Aleppo before the government is expected to declare it has reassumed full control of the city for the first time since rebels carved out an enclave for the opposition in 2012.
Syrian state TV said the evacuations resumed after rebels handed over prisoners taken in previous rounds of fighting.
A dispute delayed the final round of evacuations for over 24 hours after some 20,000 civilians and fighters were bused out of the city.
Some 3,000 rebel fighters and civilians endured harsh wintry conditions overnight, waiting to board what may be the last convoy out of the east. Activists circulated photos on social media of families huddled around fires amid the sleet and snow. By midday, temperatures in the city hovered around freezing.
