Syrian regime forces shelled the last pockets of Damascus controlled by the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS), preparing the ground for a possible assault, AFP reported Wednesday (April 18th).
After fully retaking Eastern Ghouta, the regime has turned its attention to other areas across the country that still escape its control.
Among them are neighbourhoods in southern Damascus that are still held by ISIS, including parts of Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp.
"Regime forces shelled several ISIS positions in Yarmouk camp and Hajar al-Aswad," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Both sides had traded fire the previous night, the Observatory said, causing at least five deaths, most of them regime soldiers.
"The regime is turning up the heat ahead of a big assault that would break ISIS's back and force it to evacuate the area," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.
ISIS still has a presence in Yarmouk and in neighbouring Hajar al-Aswad, Tadamon and Qadam.
