The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

More than two weeks after losing al-Kadam neighborhood and in conjunction of losing in Yarmouk Camp, ISIS loses al-Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood completely for the regime forces and allies

The regime forces supported by their allies of Syrian and non-Syrian nationality continues their military operations in the southern part of the capital Damascus, within the remaining area under the control of the “Islamic State” organization, in continuous attempts to end the existence of the “Islamic State” organization, and to control over the entire capital Damascus again, after ending the presence of the factions in Damascus, its surroundings and Rif Dimashq, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored the regime forces being able to advance with the support of their allies, and forcing the organization to withdraw from the remaining areas it used to control in al-Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood, where the regime forces imposed their control over the entire neighborhood of al-Hajar al-Aswad, which witnessed hit-and-run clashes and swing of control between the organization and regime’s members and their loyal gunmen in the past few days, in the clashes that have been taking place since the 19th of April 2018, amid attempts by the organization to recover the positions it has lost in the neighbourhood.

And with this advancement for the regime forces south of Damascus, the “Islamic State” organization now has only about 70% of Yarmouk Camp and a part of al-Tadamon neighborhood in the southern sector of the capital, and if the regime forces were able to advance with the support of warplanes, helicopters and the ground shelling, then the organization will lose its existence completely, and it is believed that the organization may return to the previous agreement between it and representatives of the Syrian regime, or reaching a new agreement about its exit from the area.

And the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the countryside during the violent clashes, bombardment and shelling, the death of 221 persons at least, of members of the regime forces and militiamen loyal to them of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, who have been killed since Thursday the 19th of April 2018, including 27 officers and 9 of them were executed, while it has increased to 189, the number of members of the organization who were killed in the shelling, clashes and targeting that left tens of wounded in the ranks of the both parties, and the death toll is expected to rise because of the continued combat operations and the presence of injured cases in critical situation.

And the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published in late April 2018 that the regime forces managed to achieve the most important advancement since the beginning of the operation in southern Damascus, where the regime forces controlled large parts of the western part of ISIS-held areas in the south of the capital (Al-Madniya – Al-Asaaly – Al-Joura which altogether form Al-Kadam neighborhood). The regime forces achieved more advancement and controlled the neighborhood after violent clashes that were accompanied by hundreds of shells, missiles and airstrikes.