Syrian rebels withdraw from Qalamoun enclave

BEIRUT/AMMAN: Syrian rebels began withdrawing from an enclave northeast of Damascus on Saturday and will go to northern Syria, state TV and a rebel official said, in a surrender agreement that marks another victory for President Bashar Al Assad.

The withdrawal will restore state control over the eastern Qalamoun enclave, some 40 km (25 miles) from Damascus.

Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, is seeking to wipe out the last few rebel enclaves near Damascus, building on momentum from the defeat of the insurgency in eastern Ghouta, which had been the last major opposition stronghold near the capital.

Meanwhile, the Syrian military and its allies pressed the bombardment of a besieged enclave south of Damascus.

State TV footage showed clouds of smoke rising from the Al Hajar Al Aswad district, part of an enclave including the Palestinian Yarmouk camp that is held by Daesh and other extremist groups.

A commander in the regional military ALLIANCE that ights In support of ASSAD said extremist positions were being targeted with all types of weapons. “Daesh positions are being targeted by Syrian army helicopters,” the commander added.

UNRWA, the UN agency that cares for Palestinian refugees, has said it is deeply concerned about the fate of civilians including some 12,000 Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk and the surrounding areas.