Army shells militant bastion in Damascus

BEIRUT: Syrian regime forces shelled the last pockets in Damascus controlled by the Daesh group, preparing the ground for a possible assault on the militant stronghold, A monitor SAID on WEDNESDAY.

“Regime forces shelled several Daesh positions in Yarmuk camp and Hajar Al Aswad, killing one person and wounded several others,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Both SIDES HAD TRADED ire THE previous night, the Britain-based monitor SAID, CAUSING At least ive DEATHS, most of them regime soldiers.

“The regime is turning up the heat ahead of a big assault that would break Daesh’s back and force them to evacuate the area,” the head of the Observatory, Rami Abdel Rahman, said.

Khaled Abdul-majid, a leader of the government-allied Palestinian Resistance Factions Coalition said the battle would begin within days if the militants do not agree to be evacuated.

The state news agency Sana said on WEDNESDAY ighters From THE JAISH Al Islam rebel faction were continuing to hand over their heavy and intermediate weapons in Dumayr ahead of their departure to the northern town of Jarabulus.

Sana said a total of 5,000 people including 1,500 rebels were expected to leave the town.

Talks were ongoing for the nearby towns of Nasiriya and Jayrud to reach a similar agreement, according to the Observatory.

Shelling slammed into both of those towns on WEDNESDAY, THE monitor said, describing the bombardment as an effort by the government to pressure residents and rebels to agree to a withdrawal.