Syria: IS militants in Damascus agree to surrender positions April 20

Event

On Friday, April 20, Islamic State (IS) militants on the southern outskirts of Damascus reportedly agreed to abandon their positions and surrender to government forces. According to local sources, as part of a deal brokered between IS militants and government officials, the 1200 IS fighters present in the Yarmouk area will be transferred to regions of eastern Syria still under IS control. The deal followed days of heavy bombardment by regime forces in a push to retake the area - one of IS's last strongholds in western and southern Syria.

Context

Though IS lost much of its territory in Syria and Iraq in 2017, the group still clings to some territory on the eastern side of the Euphrates River near the Iraqi border in Deir Al-Zor province, as well as to desert areas along the Iraq-Syria border in Deir Al-Zor and Hasaka provinces.

Advice

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise against all travel to Syria, with some banning travel to the country. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to any travel to Syria.