On Friday morning, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) continued their abrupt assault on the southern Damascene district of Al-Qadam, where they confronted a large contingent of Ajnad Al-Sham and Jaysh Al-Islam fighters at the Qadam-Hajar Al-Aswad axis.
According to field reports from Jaysh Al-Islam social media activists, the Islamist rebel forces killed 13 ISIS fighters that were attempting to push into central Al-Qadam from the southern sector of this district.
However, the mounting casualties did little to deter the ISIS fighters, as the aforementioned terrorist group reportedly captured more territory inside the Al-Qadam District, which is located approximately 6km away from the Presidential Palace near Mount Qassioun in Damascus.
If ISIS captures the remaining rebel-held territory in Al-Qadam; this will allow the terrorist group to not only endanger the Syrian capital of Damascus, but also, the West Ghouta (collection of farms) of the Rif Dimashq Governorate.
ISIS is already pushing east towards the Yalda District of Damascus, which is endangering the East Ghouta and the main highway to the Al-Sweida Governorate; if captured, the terrorist group could eventually link up with their positions in the Homs Governorate.
The Syrian Armed Forces has only clashed with ISIS in the Qalamoun Mountains; however, this is due to the Islamist rebel forces being caught in the middle of the Syrian Armed Forces and ISIS.