Media outlets confirmed that the Fourth Division militia led by Maher al-Assad, brother of the head of the Syrian regime, evacuated its military checkpoints near the Syrian capital, Damascus.

The American "Al-Hurra" website, quoting Syrian sources, stated that the militia withdrew 7 checkpoints in the capital's countryside, which were deployed in the town of Mesraba in Eastern A;-Ghouta, Zakia, Khan Al-Sheeh and Deir Khabiyeh.

The sources indicated that the Fourth Division handed over these points to the Military Intelligence, for unknown reasons, and returned to their fixed points in the vicinity of Damascus.

It is noteworthy that the Fourth Division militia faced many criticisms from Al- Assad loyalists, due to its imposition of taxes and royalties on civilians crossing its checkpoints, and the theft and looting of the homes of displaced Syrians, both outside and inside the country.