EXCLUSIVE! Damascus is Finally Free: SAA Captures Yarmouk ISIS Camp With Help From Russian Aviation

The Syrian army has fully defeated the last stronghold of terrorists in the Damascus area. For almost seven years, the Yarmouk Camp has been a refuge for thousands of ISIS members.

Back to Syria. The Syrian army has fully defeated the last stronghold of terrorists in the Damascus area. For almost seven years, the Yarmouk Camp has been a refuge for thousands of ISIS members. The operation to liberate the area of strategic importance was discussed today at a Russian Defense Ministry briefing.

Yevgeny Poddubny, our war correspondent, witnessed the events and is reporting live from Syria.

 

- Hello, Zhenya. Please tell us about the Yarmouk operation and the current situation in Syria.

- Hello, Ernest. This was another key victory of the Syrian army soldiers, who fully defeated ISIS terrorist groups in the Yarmouk Camp.

Engineers are now working on demining the territory, which, for years, was under control of radical groups of the so-called Islamic State. Before they left, they mined the area and planted self-made explosives as well as anti-tank and antipersonnel mines.

But first things first. The operation to liberate the south of Damascus, an area, located just 5 miles from the downtown, started over a month ago. It was the last terrorist stronghold in the city. In fact, Damascus is now a peaceful city. For the first time in the entire war, no gunshots are being heard and people living in Damascus no longer have to worry about mortar or missile attacks, which they had to deal with just about every day. Heavy fighting broke out in the Yarmouk Camp center. Although the Syrian Army soldiers used tube, rocket and missile artillery as well as aircraft, the militants fought for every square foot.

Here's the statement by Sergei Rudskoi, chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, made in Moscow.

Sergei Rudskoy: "All ISIS armed units operating in west Yarmouk have been eliminated. The territory is now under control of the government troops. Some members of the armed opposition from east Yarmouk were given an opportunity either to voluntary use amnesty and return back to peaceful life or to leave the area with their families for Idlib province."

At the briefing session, it was also made clear that Russia appeals to the United Nations and other international organizations to actively engage in the peace-building process in Syria, help restore the country’s economy and recover areas damaged by warfare.

- Ernest.

- Thank you, Zhenya. Evgeniy Poddubnyy, our war correspondent, reported on the last stronghold of ISIS terrorists which was defeated in the Yarmouk Camp in southwest Syria.