Jul 1, 2018

Several dozen Syrian refugees left Lebanon for neighbouring Syria on Sunday as part of returns coordinated between both countries, an AFP reporter and authorities said.

A total of 42 Syrians returned voluntarily from Lebanon through the Masnaa crossing to areas in Syria, Lebanese authorities said.

A Lebanese coordinator said they were headed for areas including Moadmiyet al-Sham, a suburb of Damascus where the regime retook control from rebels in October 2016.

An AFP reporter saw men and women dressed in crisp clothes board a bus, some carrying bags or young children.

Mohammad Nakhla, 58, was anxious to set foot in his home country for the first time in six years.