Syrian opposition forces have moved their headquarters back to Syria, from Turkey.
The leadership of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) moved back to parts of the country controlled by its own forces on Saturday.
In a video statement FSA commander-in-chief Colonel Riad al-Asaad said, “The leadership of the FSA has entered the liberated areas (of Syria) after the success of the plan that the FSA has worked on with other battalions and units in order to safeguard the free areas.”
The command council had spent more than a year in Turkey guiding FSA forces as they fought to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
But there is increasing pressure from Turkish citizens on their government to encourage Syrian rebels to return to their own country.
More than 80,000 Syrian refugees are being housed in camps in Turkey as well.
There are numerous factions among the Syrian opposition forces, one reason the international community has been hesitant to offer more than collateral assistance to the rebels. Weaponry and other military aid, say international leaders, cannot be provided to forces that are not organized and united under one banner with a clear chain of command.