Syrian refugees arrive at the Jlaighem crossing in the eastern countryside of Homs Province, Syria, on June 26, 2019. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

The refugees will be evacuated within 30 days in groups of 3,000-3,500 people, starting from Sept. 27.

MOSCOW, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The resettlement of refugees from the battered Rukban camp in southern Syria may be completed in October if U.S.-backed rebels don't torpedo it, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties and the Control of the Movement of Refugees in Syria received the updated United Nations (UN) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent plan for the removal of the remaining Rukban residents, the ministry said in a statement.

The start of its implementation is scheduled for Sept. 27, and the refugees will be evacuated within 30 days in groups of 3,000-3,500 people, the statement said.

However, the operation is at risk because it may be torpedoed by the U.S.-backed rebels in the 55-km al-Tanf area, who refuse to guarantee security to the UN and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent officials, it said.

It seems that the United States gave its consent to the dismantling of the Rukban camp only in order to provide humanitarian assistance to the U.S.-controlled militants, according to the statement. ■