GOVERNMENT FORCES BREAK ISIS DEFENSE, CAPTURE SOUTHERN PART OF HAJAR AL-ASWAD DISTRICT

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On May 5, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the Palestinian Liberation Army (PLA) and their allies captured the southern part of the strategic al-Hajar al-Aswad district, south of the city of Damascus, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). The SANA said that the SAA is now clearing the liberated area from mines and IEDs.

The SAA and its allies split the ISIS-held pocket south of Damascus on May 3 capturing several key positions between the al-Hajar al-Aswad district and the Yarmouk refugee camp.

From its side, the ISIS linked news agency Amaq claimed that ISIS fighters killed 90 SAA soldiers and damaged a BMP-1 armored vehicle of the SAA during the clashes in al-Hajar al-Aswad district and the Yarmouk refugee camp in southern Damascus on May 4 and 5. However, most of these claims were not verified.

Currently, ISIS fighters control more than 80% of the Yarmouk camp, less than 20% of the Hajar al-Aswad district and a few positions in the al-Tdamon district. The SAA and its allies are expected to launch a final ground attack on ISIS positions in Yarmouk, once al-Hajar al-Aswad is fully secured.

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