Syrian rebel group names successor to slain leader
29.12.2015 - 17:47
The powerful Syrian rebel group Jaysh al Islam has named the successor to its chief Zahran Alloush, killed in an air strike east of Damascus on Friday (December 25) Abu Hammam al Buwaidani will now lead the group, which confirmed Alloush was killed during a meeting of rebel commanders east of Damascus. The Syrian government says it was responsible for the attack, but rebel sources say it was carried out by Russian warplanes.
The death of Alloush is a major blow for the powerful Saudi-backed group, whose name means “Army of Islam” but is ideologically at odds with the jihadist group calling itself Islamic State, or ISIL.
