Palestinian Resistance Enters Southern Yarmouk Camp

‘The Palestinian resistance forces – led by the Syrian Arab Army’s Palestinian wing “Palestine Liberation Army” (PLA) – have entered the southern sector of the Yarmouk Camp District after almost two weeks of intense firefights with the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).

On Monday morning, the PLA – in coordination with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC) and Fatah Al-Intifada – stormed ISIS’ positions near the district center and overwhelmed the militant forces with a powerful assault that forced the latter to retreat towards the Al-Wasseem Mosque.

As a result of their success, the Palestinian resistance was able to penetrate into the southern sector of the district, marking the first time in two weeks that any armed group – other than ISIS – has entered this area in the Yarmouk Camp.

At the eastern axis of the Palestine Camp, the Palestinian resistance continued their push towards the Yarmouk Boys School and the Saker Stadium located on Palestine Street, capturing approximately four building blocks near the latter in the central part of the district.

According to a source in Jarmana Camp, ISIS suffered significantly high casualties on Monday, as their death toll was estimated between 40-60 militants; this has led to ISIS withdrawing from parts of the district in order to reinforce their fighters in the south.

Firefights between Jaysh Al-Islam and ISIS continued on Monday, with the latter attacking a number of sites controlled by Zahran Alloush’s (Jaysh Al-Islam’s leader) militants in the city of Hajar Al-Aswad.

ISIS has utilized the network of tunnels dug by the Free Syrian Army in 2012 to maneuver around the city of Hajar Al-Aswad and enter the Yarmouk Camp District; it is likely that they remain embedded in the southern sector of the district for a long period of time.