Sana quoted that civilians expressing their happiness to return to their city and their pride of the steadfastness and victories of the Syrian Army, which made sacrifices in order to bring security and safety in the various villages and towns hit by "terrorism".

Damascus described local agreements - acceptance of state rule or departure - as a sample for peace and security after the seven-year war. It says it is seeking to reclaim land from the militants so that the Syrians can return to their homes.

Meanwhile, Six batches of Syrian refugees have returned to Syria from Lebanon as part of the “voluntary return” system, in coordination with the Lebanese authorities and the Syrian government. No official numbers of those who returned are available.

According to Lebanese official figures, around one million and a half million Syrian refugees are currently living in Lebanon. But the United Nations puts their number at less than a million refugees.