<p>Jaysh al-Islam, the main rebel group in East Ghouta, released a statement on March 12 denying involvement in negotiations with the Assad government towards an evacuation deal for its fighters.</p><p>Spokesman Hamzah Bereqdar</a>, who delivered the statement, said that his group would “defend Ghouta until victory or martyrdom.”</p><p>Jaysh al-Islam said it had agreed a deal via Russia and UN agencies to allow the evacuation of some of the wounded from East Ghouta, according to a March 12 statement on Twitter</a>. Credit: Islam Army via Storyful</p><br />
