Turkey: Aleppo evacuations could be completed soon

Snow is falling in Syria, hiding the scars of war as the last refugees are evacuated from Aleppo.

Coaches arrived on Wednesday to load up with some 600 people, among the last of some 26,000 to benefit from the evacuation deal.

Multiple officials and a rebel group said, although they disagreed on the time frame and the number of evacuees.

One rebel official said he estimated some 2000 people and fighters remained in the last pocket under rebel control in the east of the city, but human rights observers say the city has now fallen to Syrian government forces.

Those ferried from Aleppo went west into rebel-held territory, but they were not the only people on the move.

Under the terms of the evacuation deal brokered by Turkey people from two Sh’ite villages near Idlib, al-Foua and Kefraya are also being evacuated, some 750 so far according to the UN.

But it cannot confirm that Aleppo is now safe.

They are being brought into government-held territory near Aleppo