BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian activists and a Lebanon-based TV station are reporting that Islamic State militants have infiltrated a Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and are fighting with a group inside the camp.
The reports mark the deepest infiltration yet by ISIS militants into Damascus. If they gain control of the Yarmouk camp, they can threaten President Bashar Assad's seat of power.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says clashes broke out Wednesday in Yarmouk between ISIS fighters and members of the Palestinian faction called Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis.
The Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV says the ISIS extremists fighters entered the camp from the nearby neighborhood of Hajar Aswad. That southern Damascus neighborhood is controlled by militants.
Observatory's chief, Rami Abdurrahman, says the ISIS "now controls large parts of the camp."
The reports mark the deepest infiltration yet by ISIS militants into Damascus. If they gain control of the Yarmouk camp, they can threaten President Bashar Assad's seat of power.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says clashes broke out Wednesday in Yarmouk between ISIS fighters and members of the Palestinian faction called Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis.
The Beirut-based Al-Mayadeen TV says the ISIS extremists fighters entered the camp from the nearby neighborhood of Hajar Aswad. That southern Damascus neighborhood is controlled by militants.
Observatory's chief, Rami Abdurrahman, says the ISIS "now controls large parts of the camp."
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment