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On April 19, Syrian government forces launched a military operation against ISIS in the Yarmouk refugee camp area in southern Damascus because neogtiations on a possible withdrawal of militnats to the eastern Homs desert had failed.
Since April 19 evening, warplanes and artillery have been pounding the terrorists’ positions in the area. At the same time, pro-government fighters are preparing to storm the ISIS positions in the southern and northern parts of the pocket.
According to pro-government sources, the Syrian military has deployed units of the following forces for this operation:
- the 4th Armoured Division
- the 7th Armoured Division
- the Syrian Republican Guard
- the ISIS Hunters of the 5th Assault Corps [allegedly linked to Russian private military contractors operating in Syria]
- the National Defense Forces
- Palestinian Liberation Army [a Palestinian pro-government militia]
- Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command [a Palestinian pro-government militia]
- Liwa al-Quds [a Palestinian pro-government militia]
- Fatah al-Intifada [a Palestinian pro-government militia]
- Galilee Forces [a Palestinian pro-government militia]
- Aqsa Shield Forces (FPM)
The high number of Palestinian militias is involved in the operationis because the Yarmouk refugee camp area is mostly populated by Palestinians.
