Jaish Al-Islam releases hundreds of prisoners in rural Damascus

YemenExtra

M.A.

hundreds of captive civilians and soldiers were released in return for 51 aid convoys entering Douma in eastern Damascus Following a rare deal between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Jaish Al-Islam.

The total number of freed prisoners, displayed caged in November 2015  to prevent airstrikes on the Jaish Al-Islam stronghold, was not specified but the deal indicates a positive step in restoring peace to the Syrian capital city.

Sheikh Issam Al-Buwaydani, commander-in-chief of Jaish Al-Islam’s military operations in the East Ghouta, reportedly headed the negotiations himself with a delegation of SAA representatives over walkie-talkie.

With a massive aid convoy heading along the Harasta Highway en route to Douma overnight, scores of mostly Alawite prisoners arrived in government-held downtown Damascus and were immediately relocated to hospital to monitor their conditions.

Most were said to have been captured in Adra, a town northeast of Douma which sustained a massacre of minority civilians back in December, 2013.

Meanwhile, heavy infighting continues to block the East Ghouta region as Jaish Al-Islam keeps on confronting Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), Failaq Al-Sham (FSA) and Ahrar Al-Sham.