CAPITALS — The Syrian army, backed by Russia, are reportedly attacking the jihadist-held enclave, under the control of terrorist group ISIS (aka Daesh) in south-western Syria.
Sources, including activists and a monitoring group, say aircrafts were bombing the Yarmouk Basin area, bordering Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
The militants are said to have counter-attacked, targeting nearby villages. But this comes after government forces recaptured most of the surrounding province of Daraa.
Rebel commanders agreed on Friday to surrender their heavy weapons and begin handing over towns as part of a Russian-brokered agreement.
In return, the Russian military is believed to have guaranteed the safe return of the 320,000 civilians who fled their homes after the government's offensive began on 19 June, as well as the evacuation to rebel-held parts of north-western Syria for people who wish to leave.
ISIS-affiliate Khalid Ibn al-Walid Army has been in control of the south-western corner of Daraa since 2014. Back then, jihadists had overran vast swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq and proclaimed the establishment of a "caliphate".
Notably, ISIS was not covered by last week's ceasefire deal and on Wednesday its positions in the Yarmouk Basin was subjected to air strikes and artillery fire.
(BBC)
