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Syrian refugees in Lebanon begin returning to Syria

Nearly 400 refugees started leaving the Lebanese border town of Arsal to cross into Syria on Thursday, a rare case of a return which Lebanon's government wants to encourage.People gathered in minivans and tractors in the morning, loading them with mattresses, water tanks and furniture. Lebanese security personnel recorded the names of Syrians as they passed through a checkpoint on the way out of Arsal. The refugees were headed for Qalamoun across the border, a region cleared of insurgents by Syrian army offensives in which Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement played a leading role.Those leaving said they had submitted their names to Lebanese authorities, who in turn sent the names to Syria for approval from the state.