Syria army inflicts heavy losses on militants in Yarmouk camp

The Syrian army continued to fight foreign-backed militants near a refugee camp outside the capital Damascus. On Monday, the Syrian soldiers as well as Palestinian volunteer fighters were engaged in heavy battles against the militants near the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp. Syrian troops inflicted heavy losses on the militants, Al-Alam reported. The Syrian soldiers and the Palestinian fighters have been advancing towards a pivotal square at the camp. "God willing, we are fifteen meters away from Al-Regie square and we are advancing. Soon, we will control it. We are in a very tight spot because of how close the buildings are to each other. As we advance, the streets will be wider, we can gain more ground," said a Palestinian fighter. The Yarmouk camp is home to the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria. The camp turned into a flashpoint area in Damascus when unrest broke out in the Arab country in 2011. According to the United Nations, more than 100,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in the violence. Reports indicate that western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside the country.