Syrian government forces are continuing their push to take a small area south of the capital Damascus from members of the Islamic State group.

Government forces have been advancing in the IS-controlled neighbourhood of Hajar al-Aswad as well as the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk since last month.

Last week, government forces were able to separate IS fighters in Hajar al-Aswad from those in the camp and since then they have been capturing one bloc after another.

AP footage from Tuesday showed smoke billowing from Hajar al-Aswad as it was being pounded from the air and ground.  

A helicopter was seen flying overhead then dropping barrel bombs while rocket launchers pounded the area with missiles.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that since government forces launched their offensive on April 19, 162 troops and pro-government fighters and 131 IS gunmen have been killed.

The capture of Yarmouk camp, Hajar al-Aswad and parts would bring all parts of Damascus under government control.