Palestinian militia commander arrested in Yarmouk

A prominent affiliate of Ahmed Jibril, the commander of Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine, General Command [PFLP-GC] has been arrested on charges of dealing with armed opposition groups in Yarmouk refugee camp, outside Damascus.

Ahmad Razaz was a military leader of PFLP-GC, a militia that was prominent in backing Assad forces after the Syrian war moved into Yarmouk camp in 2011.

Sources told The New Arab that Razaz was arrested two weeks ago and transferred to Ein Saheb prison north of Damascus.

"Adnan Razaz was one of the main founders of the popular committees in Yarmouk, responsible for arming shabiha (thugs])," said media activist Adam Shami.

"Razaz recently worked as the director of Ahmed Jibril's son's office, responsible for the security of the Popular Front in Lebanon before he was arrested."

PFLP-GC has been accused of collaborating directly with Syrian intelligence officials, and was said to be directly responsible for the siege of Yarmouk which has lasted three years, and lead to the displacement of around 200,000 people.

The decision of PFLP-GC to join forces with Assad was widely criticised from within the group

The group worked in coordination with "Fatah-Intifada," a small Palestinian faction, and Assad militias from south Damascus.

Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp was also a refuge for many residents of Damascus who faced bombardment in 2011.

In mid-December 2012, the regime commenced a military campaign on the camp, leading to clashes between Syrian and Palestinian opposition forces and those belonging to the regime and affiliated with Jibril.

The decision of PFLP-GC to join forces with Assad was widely criticised from within the group, as well as from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Many members and fighters from the group defected to opposition forces.

Yet the entrance of Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State group into the camp last year changed the tide again, and some Palestinian factions who were previously fighting Assad – notably Hamas affiliate Aknaf Bayt al-Maqdis - switched sides to join regime forces in fighting the militants.