ISLAMIC STATE (Isis) fighters seized parts of the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus yesterday, marking the deepest foray yet by the jihadist group into the Syrian capital.

A spokesman for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — General Command said that Isis fighters had entered via the nearby Hajar Aswad neighbourhood, which they have controlled for months, with help from the rival Nusra Front, al-Qaida’s branch in Syria.

“The Nusra Front opened the road for them in order to infiltrate the camp and several hours ago they entered Yarmouk,” said Anwar Raja.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation’s Anwar Abdel Hadi said that Isis had grabbed “the majority of the camp.”

Jordan, meanwhile, closed its only border crossing with Syria, following heavy clashes on the Syrian side between rebels and government forces.