ALEPPO, Syria — On the morning of July 16, the first convoy of Syrians displaced from Daraa reached the Idlib countryside in northern Syria. Nine vehicles transported 430 people, including 213 men, 140 children and 77 women. Most of the displaced are militants from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and their families, in addition to civilians and activists from the towns and cities of the southern Daraa province and Daraa city.

The FSA factions had reached a cease-fire agreement with regime forces mediated by Russia on July 6 in the opposition-held areas in Daraa, except its northwestern countryside. Under the deal, FSA factions agreed to hand over their heavy weapons. Those opposing the agreement would go to Idlib in northern Syria. The agreement came 20 days after the regime forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, launched a violent offensive to take the rebel-held areas in southwestern Syria.

Amine Malhis, the leader of the FSA-affiliated Aleppo al-Shahba Brigade active in Aleppo’s countryside, told Al-Monitor, “The main reason that pushed these people to accept displacement and decide not to stay in their houses and regions is that they do not trust the regime or Russia. Despite the ongoing reconciliation and Russian reassurance that they will not be persecuted, they were still skeptical.”

Those displaced from Daraa reached the Qalaat al-Madiq crossing that separates the opposition-held territories from the regime-held area in Hama’s northwestern countryside. They were then transferred to Saed Camp in the Idlib countryside and Miznaz camp in the Aleppo countryside, and some were sheltered in houses in the cities and towns of Jericho, Jarjnaz, Taftanaz, Saraqib, Sarja, Hbit, al-Dana, Idlib and Maarrat Misrin.