77 Russians leave Syria via Beirut

77 Russian nationals have fled Syria, flying out of Beirut’s international airport late on Tuesday night after being bussed out of the war-torn country earlier that day. This is the first group of Russian nationals to leave Syria after Russian airlines suspended flights to and from Damascus following deterioration in the security situation on the airport road in the Syrian capital. The main thoroughfare has witnessed some of the fiercest fighting in the 22-month conflict between opposition forces and the Syrian army, loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. The 77 people are believed to be the first of 435 Russians returning home from Syria in the next few days, Lebanese security sources told Arabstoday. They did not include any diplomats or embassy staffers, authorities claimed. Sources added that the departure strategy had been organised in cooperation with the Russian embassy in Beirut and the Lebanese authorities. The next load of Russians to reach Beirut’s airport are expected to arrive on either Wednesday or Thursday.