Rights group: ISIS still controls 80% of Yarmouk

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights yesterday rejected reports claiming that the Islamic State (ISIS) had withdrawn from the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk in Syria, stressing that the group still controls 80 per cent of it.

In a statement the organisation said: “Violent clashes between the Aknaf Bait Al-Maqdis Brigades supported by Islamist militia erupted with ISIS fighters and their allies the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front as the Syrian regime forces continue their attack the camp with heavy machinery.”

The UK-based watchdog which has been monitoring the four year conflict through a network of local observers said reliable sources from Yarmouk denied reports that ISIS withdrew from the camp, saying ISIS fighters had merely redeployed to northern areas of the camp.

Meanwhile, the Aknaf Bait Al-Maqdis Brigades said its fighters have been engaged in fierce battles for two days with ISIS militants to liberate the camp and break the siege.

On facebook, the Brigades thanked allied groups which fight with them to liberate the camp including Sham Al-Rasool Brigades, Jaysh Al-Ababil Brigades, Jaysh Al-Islam Brigades and the Ajnad Al-Sham Islamic Union.

The brigades, in cooperation with Syrian opposition groups, launched an offensive against ISIS militants to restore the camp.

The Syrian regime has been shelling the camp since ISIS occupied it nearly three weeks ago which led to the killing and injuring of tens of Palestinian refugees.

The regime forces are also reported to have arrested aid and relief workers who tried to flee the besieged camp.