Syria war: Thousands return home in south-west Published duration 8 July 2018 Related Topics Syrian civil war

image copyright AFP/Getty Images image caption The army offensive in Syria's south-west had forced more than 320,000 people to flee

Almost all the Syrians who fled from an army offensive towards a border crossing with Jordan have now returned to their homes, a top UN official says.

Anders Pedersen, the UN humanitarian co-ordinator in Jordan, said that "around 150 to 200 people [are] right now at the border".

Up to 40,000 had massed near the Nassib-Jaber crossing - part of 320,000 to flee in recent weeks, the UN says.

Many are now returning after a recent deal between the army and rebels.

The provinces of Deraa and Quneitra had been relatively calm for almost a year because of a "de-escalation" agreement brokered by the US and Jordan, which support the opposition, and Russia, a key ally of the government Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

However, Mr Assad set his sights on retaking them after defeating rebels in the Eastern Ghouta region outside the capital Damascus in April.

image caption Control of south-western Syria (27 June 2018)

Both Damascus and Moscow have repeatedly denied the accusations.