Deir ez-Zor becomes safer place to live, bus route restored

Damascus-based transport companies have been providing buses to help bring Deir ez-Zor residents back home, a Sputnik correspondent reported. A total of six buses are transporting displaced people back to the formerly besieged city each day.

The bus route between the capital city of Damascus and Deir ez-Zor has become safer after the liberation of Deir ez-Zor from Daesh (banned in Russia) and the restoration of Syrian authorities.

“Now Daesh militants have been driven out of Deir ez-Zor. Thanks to [Russian] sappers, all mines have been cleared from the roads, so now I’m confident for the safety of my passengers,” bus driver Akhmad Fazim said.

Moreover, Deir ez-Zor resident Ammal Salek noted that the city’s liberation also affected the travel situation there. Another resident, Ali Adirkhan, also said he could not even think about returning home until the city was liberated with the help of Russian forces.

“Daesh terrorists controlled Deir ez-Zor, the roads were mined, there was no bus route. I would not risk embarking on such a journey. You know, I want to thank your soldiers as because of them we now have hope for peace. Thanks to their bravery I am able to go home today,” Adirkhan said.

Meanwhile, successful military actions in the province of Deir ez-Zor led to the almost complete expulsion of Daesh militants from the area, with the west bank of the Euphrates River remaining the only area where terrorist units are currently still operating. Deir ez-Zor has been under siege by Daesh since 2014.

In September 2017, Syrian army supported by Russian Aerospace Forces managed to lift the blockade. On November 3, the Syrian army announced the full liberation of the city from terrorists. However, fights with terrorists continue in Deir ez-Zor province.