Damascus: A group of 14 Palestinian factions said Thursday they backed a joint military operation with the Syrian government to expel Daesh from the Yarmuk camp in southern Damascus.

After a meeting of the factions in the Syrian capital, Palestine Liberation Organisation official Ahmad Majdalani said the groups supported a coordinated military effort in the camp.

The factions support “a security solution that will be carried out in partnership with the Syrian state and will have as its priority maintaining the security of citizens,” he said.

“We agreed that there would be permanent cooperation with the Syrian leadership and the formation of a joint operations room with Syrian government forces and the Palestinian factions that have a significant presence in the camp or around it.”

Majdalani added that Palestinian forces would work in an “integrated” fashion “with the Syrian state to clear the camp of terrorists.”

But it was unclear whether that position was shared by the Palestinian fighters on the ground inside the camp.

The key Aknaf Bait Al Maqdis group fighting Daesh inside Yarmuk was not present at the meeting and could not be reached for comment.

The group is opposed to the Syrian government and has cooperated with rebel fighters against Daesh inside Yarmuk since the extremist organisation entered the camp on April 1.

The Islamist Palestinian movement Hamas also did not attend the meeting, an official told AFP.

Majdalani said Palestinian backing for a military operation was dependent on any action protecting civilian lives and infrastructure in the battered camp.

“The action must take into account the lives of the camp’s citizens and avoid massive destruction. It will be carried out in a progressive fashion,” he said.

There were no further details on when any operation might take place and who would participate.

On Wednesday, Syria’s reconciliation minister, Ali Haidar, said a military operation would be required to expel jihadists from Yarmuk and suggested army forces could be involved.

“The Syrian state will decide whether the battle requires it,” Haidar said.