Suwaghiya (Syria) (AFP) – Buses began evacuating fighters and civilians from two besieged pro-regime towns in Syria early on Thursday morning, under a deal that will allow thousands to leave after years of encirclement.

An AFP correspondent counted 20 buses driving out of Fuaa and Kafraya, the last two remaining towns under siege in the war-torn country. The evacuations come as part of a deal reached between regime ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey.