UNITED STATES (VOP TODAY NEWS) – Thousands of Syrian refugees will soon leave the Rukban refugee camp, located near the border between Syria, Jordan and Iraq, to settle in areas under Syrian government control. At the same time, the armed elements and their families will be transferred to Idlib to make the ground suitable for the withdrawal of Americans from the al-Tanf military base.
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Friday (September 21st) that the new round of talks between Moscow and Washington on the evacuation of the Rukban refugee camp was under way.
According to the spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, “Moscow continues to cooperate with the United States to transfer refugees from Rukban to areas controlled by the Syrian government.”
The Russian news agency TASS reaffirms that the US side has proposed the transfer of Syrian refugees from Rukban to areas controlled by the Syrian government, under the supervision of UN offices.
“The details have not been negotiated, however,” the source said.
The Rukban refugee camp, located in a triangular region separating Syria, Iraq and Jordan, is currently controlled by armed groups, backed by the US coalition. Almost 20,000 Syrian refugees have been identified.
A source familiar with the issue told the daily Rai al-Youm that the withdrawal of US forces from the al-Tanf region was an essential condition in the Russian-US negotiations.
Also in the context of these negotiations, thousands of armed individuals, trained and financed by the United States and installed in the US military base of al-Tanf, will be transferred to the province of Idlib.
More than 5,000 people, armed individuals and their families included, have already registered on a list, saying they are ready to leave for northern Syria. The evacuation operation would begin during the coming hours.
According to a diplomatic source, who requested anonymity, “these measures are a first step to accelerate the withdrawal of all US military forces from Syrian territory.” She added that this was part of an agreement with the Russian side, which would enter into force in several stages.
On 11 June, the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Latakia, Hmeimim, announced that the Rukban refugee camp had become a hideout for armed individuals, including Daesh terrorists.
The Russian Center describes the humanitarian situation in the Rukban camp as “catastrophic” because of the blockage of aid convoys by the Americans.
