Syria’s Government capture Naseeb border crossing which leads to Jordan

France 24 / Sana : Syrian State news agency SANA said the capture of the Naseeb border crossing happened Friday afternoon after a deal was reached between rebels and Russian mediators to end fighting in southern Syria. Syrian government forces raised the national flag there, for the first time in years.

Earlier on Friday, rebels said they reached an agreement with Russian mediators in the southern province of Deraa and surrender the Naseeb crossing point. The agreement was reached following an intense aerial campaign by government forces and Russian allies, and the capture of new areas along the border.

The Syrian Agency said that “the reclamation of Nassib border crossing, which is 15 km away from Daraa city, is a main transport and economic hub, after approximately three years is a major strategic achievement, and it adds up to the series of defeats for terrorists in the southern region.”

Ibrahim Jabawi, spokesman for the rebels’ joint operations room, said they have reached an agreement with the Russians in which insurgents will begin to hand over some of their heavy weapons in return for a government pullout from several villages.

Jabawi added that Russian military police would deploy along the border with Jordan, including the Naseeb border crossing, and that rebels opposed to the deal will be evacuated to rebel-held regions in northern Syria.

The capture of the Naseeb border crossing is another victory for President Bashar Assad’s forces, who have regained control of most of the area’s key cities from insurgents in recent years with the help of Russia and Iran.