destruction Damascus
© Mikhail Voskresenky/SputnikDestroyed buildings in the Darayya suburb of Damascus
The Syrian authorities have begun evacuating civilians and militants from Darayya, a southern suburb of Damascus, a Sputnik correspondent reported Friday.

On Thursday, reports emerged claiming that the Syrian army and the so-called moderate armed opposition reached an agreement under which some 4,000 civilians must leave Darayya, as well as 700 armed terrorists, who will be taken to Idlib.

As many as 25 buses will be taking militants to Idlib, while 30 buses will take militants' facilities. There are also 15 ambulances to evacuate the wounded.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria. Terrorist groups such as Daesh and Jabhat Fatah al Sham (previously known as al-Nusra Front), are not part of the deal.

Fighters of several militant groups have been surrounded by Syrian government forces in Darayya for several months. At the same time the province of Idlib has been fully controlled by Jabhat Fatah al Sham, which is outlawed in many countries, including Russia, and its allies.

The office of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said in a Friday statement that evacuation of people from Darayya, a southern suburb of Damascus, must take place voluntarily.

The statement added that de Mistura called on the United States and Russia, as the Co-Chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), as well as on other ISSG members to ensure that cessation of hostilities was in compliance with international humanitarian law and protection standards.

"It is imperative that people of Darayya are protected in any evacuation that takes place, and that this takes place voluntarily," the statement said.

On Thursday, reports emerged claiming that the Syrian army and the so-called moderate armed opposition reached an agreement under which some 4,000 civilians must leave Darayya, as well as 700 armed militants, who will be taken to Idlib. Earlier on Friday, the Syrian authorities have begun evacuating civilians and militants from the suburb of Damascus.