Syria: Government retakes IS-held areas in southern Damascus May 21 /update 2

Event

On Monday, May 21, Syrian state media reported that government forces had retaken the Islamic State (IS)-controlled Yarmouk refugee camp and Al-Hajar Al-Aswad in southern Damascus, the last areas around the capital which were not under government control. The declaration comes amid reports that IS militants had evacuated the areas under a deal with the Syrian government; according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, some 1600 people were evacuated from Yarmouk and Al-Hajar Al-Aswad on Sunday, May 20, and Monday en route to the Badiya region of southeastern Syria where IS maintains control over pockets of desert territory.

Context

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

Syria remains enmeshed in a complex civil war that started between the Assad government and opposition forces in March 2011. Today, the conflict in Syria involves many parties, including the Syrian government, the Russian government, the Iranian government, the Turkish government, a US-led coalition, and numerous armed groups on the ground (including the Islamic State) with competing goals.

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.