Syria conflict: Rebels 'to leave Yarmouk refugee camp'

A UN-brokered deal could see thousands of Syrian rebels and their families leave areas in and around the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus.

The deal, which is still at a delicate stage, involves agreement between rebel fighters and the government. It could see a number of militants from Islamic State (IS) given safe passage to their stronghold of Raqqa. The aim is to make Yarmouk safe again so that the 18,000 people believed to be trapped there can receive aid. In April, IS militants infiltrated the camp and briefly seized large parts of it. Yarmouk is divided into areas controlled by IS, the rival al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front and pro- and anti-government Palestinian militants. Government forces maintain checkpoints around the area preventing civilians from leaving. See More