HUNDREDS of jihadists are leaving their last major stronghold in Syria under the terms of a surrender agreement giving them safe passage to Idlib in the country’s north.

Islamists and their families are being bused out of territory between Homs and Hama, allowing President Bashar al-Assad’s government to regain control of a further chunk of central Syria.

The agreement was reached after lengthy negotiations between the Free Syrian Army and Russian representatives, which ended last week. While heavy arms were handed over, the jihadists were allowed to keep light weapons including rifles.