The Syrian regime on Sunday (May 21st) regained total control of the central city of Homs with the evacuation of opposition fighters from the last area they had controlled, AFP reported.

Since December, the opposition has lost its former bastion of Aleppo and nearly all of the areas it controlled in Damascus.

This latest setback is mostly symbolic, however, as most of the opposition had been driven out of Homs in 2014 after two years of bombardment and stifling siege.

"The last bus (with evacuees on board) has left the Waer neighbourhood," Homs provincial governor Talal Barazi said.

On Saturday, he had said that 3,000 evacuees, including 700 opposition fighters, were due to be taken out of Waer.

The evacuees left on board 50 buses as more than 30 trucks packed with household belongings trailed behind.

Many opposition fighters wore black scarves to conceal their faces, some holding light weapons authorised under the deal while families lugged suitcases and children carried toys.

The operation began two months ago and has been carried out over several weeks.

Under the deal, opposition fighters are granted safe passage by the government out of Homs to opposition-held areas elsewhere in Syria, including the northwestern Idlib province.