Yarmouk refugee camp has witnessed violent clashes between ISIS fighters and armed opposition factions, including Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis brigades. Media activist Amir ash-Shami confirmed to al-Souria Net that ISIS has retreated in some areas of the camp.
Ash-Shami said that Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis brigades have advanced from the northeastern front of the camp, regaining control of many streets leading to Salah al-Din mosque. Ash-Shami added that "fighters from the Army of Islam, Sham ar-Rasoul, Jaish al-Ababil and al-Aknaf launched an attack against ISIS fighters in the camp’s eastern districts, which forced them a withdraw from the outskirts of Yarmouk".
Ash-Shami also noted that the opposition forces were initially reluctant to offer support to Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis, but later stepped up their participation by targeting ISIS and Nusra Front fighters in Yarmouk camp and al-Hajar al-Aswad. The forces managed to advance in the al-Nusra-held square of at-Tadamon neighborhood, entering parts of the camp, including al-Uruba, at-Taqaddom, the sports city and the cultural center.
Ash-Shami explained that ISIS still dominates 60 to 70 percent of the camp’s area, noting the organization lost more than 70 fighters while entering the camp, while dozens more were wounded.
Ash-Shami said it is estimated that ISIS has “about 500 fighters (inside the camp), but Nusra members are fighting alongside them, in addition to some other groups that have pledged allegiance to ISIS, while the total number of its fighters in the southern region is up to about 800 fighters".
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
