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Since the start of a military operation against ISIS in southern Damascus on April 19, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies have made only limited gains in the area. However, according to pro-government sources, intense strikes by the Syrian Air Force and the SAA’s artillery have allowed government forces to deliver a serve blow to the ISIS defense infrastructure in the area.
On April 21, government troops liberated the al-Mujahedeen mosque in the southeastern part of al-Hajar al-Aswad district. By April 22, the SAA and its allies have developed their advance capturing a major part of the Zain district in the southern part of the pocket and reaching the Taqadom district in the northern part of the pocket.
According to pro-government sources, the SAA still hopes to reach a deal with ISIS that will force the terrorists to withdraw from the populated area to the eastern Homs desert. However, the deal has not been reached yet. So, government forces are developing their military operation in the area.
The humanitarian situation in the Yarmouk refugee camp itself remains complicated as civilians are not able to leave the ISIS-held area – the terrorist group prevents them from this.
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