(VOVworld) - Syrian rebels in a former opposition stronghold in Homs will relinquish nearly half of their heavy weapons as part of a landmark truce with the government.

A Syrian man rides his motorbike past a damaged building on 1 January 2016 in the central Syrian town of Talbisseh in the Homs province (Photo: AFP)

Homs provincial governor Talal Barazi said on Wednesday that the deal was reached in December, the second phase of the agreement began on January 9 and will continue until the beginning of February. In this phase, the rebels in Waer will hand over nearly 50 percent of all medium and heavy weaponry such as machine guns and mortars, in exchange, government forces will also open a second crossing point into the neighborhood, allowing residents and displaced individuals to travel more freely. Mr. Barazi said a "reconciliation process" would begin for the rebel fighters still in the district, estimated to number about 1,000.