Deal reached for rebels in the Syrian province of Quneitra to accept state rule or leave

The Syrian army will return to pre-2011 positions on the border with Israel

Syrian forces of President Bashar al Assad are seen celebrating on al-Haara hill in Quneitra area, file photo. SANA / Handout via Reuters

A deal has been reached in the Syrian province of Quneitra for rebels to accept state control or leave the area, Syrians state news said.

The deal states that rebels in the province of Quneitra should leave for the rebel-held province of Idlib in the northwest of Syria, or accept state control.

Quneitra is held on the border of Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and is the target of a Russian-backed government offensive that forced rebels to surrender across much of the southwest of the country last month.

The ceasefire deal would see government institutions return to the area in exchange for rebels handing over heavy weapons, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The Syrian army will return to positions it held in 2011 before the Syrian conflict erupted, Syrian state media agency Sana said, citing its correspondent.