Syrian al-Qaeda branch confirms Abu Hammam al-Shami died during
regime attack on meeting of group's
commanders in Idlib.
strike by Syrian government
forces has killed a senior commander
of al-Nusra Front, the Syrian branch
of al-Qaeda, the group and state
media have said.
The SAN
A state news agency said Abu Hammam al-Shami, also known as al- Farouq al-Suri, was killed in a special army operation in Idlib province on Thursday.
Al-Shami, a veteran al-Qaeda leader
from Damascus, held the title of
general military commander for al-
Nusra Front.
Last week, members of the armed
group had said he had been killed in a US drone strike.
But on Thursday, it said Shami had
been killed earlier that day when he
was in a meeting with other senior
al-Nusra commanders.
Thursday's air strike came a day after the group claimed responsibility for a
deadly attack on the intelligence
headquarters of Syria's air force in
Aleppo.
Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting
from neighbouring Lebanon, said al-
Shami was considered "the military
brain behind" al-Nusra and that his
death is a "huge blow" to the group.
Syria is fighting the Islamic State in
Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-
Nusra Front.
Our correspondent said al-Nusra has
pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda leader
Ayman al-Zawahiri and has defeated
moderate anti-Syria groups in the
north.
"There were some forces in the al-
Nusra Front contemplating the
possibility to sever ties with al-
Qaeda, and this is why analysts are
saying that this strike could have
been part of an internal power
struggle," she said.
She added that the strike "was a
major security breach, which means
that there was some sort of
intelligence information provided for
the strike to have been carried out".
Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon
spokesman, said: "We cannot confirm
press reports of the deaths of senior
al-Nusra leaders near the province of
Idlib."
However, he added: "Neither the US
or the coalition have conducted air
strikes near that location in recent
days."
Al-Nusra first surfaced on the internet
in early 2012 to claim responsibility
for suicide bombings in Aleppo and
Damascus.
The well-armed group, with highly
trained fighters, has since staged
numerous attacks on security forces -
as well as on other armed groups in
the country.
Now, its leaders are reportedly
considering cutting their links with al- Qaeda to form a purely Syrian entity.
A rebranding could free up more
funding, as al-Nusra is sanctioned by
the UN Security Council and listed as
a terrorist group by the US.
regime attack on meeting of group's
commanders in Idlib.
strike by Syrian government
forces has killed a senior commander
of al-Nusra Front, the Syrian branch
of al-Qaeda, the group and state
media have said.
The SAN
A state news agency said Abu Hammam al-Shami, also known as al- Farouq al-Suri, was killed in a special army operation in Idlib province on Thursday.
Al-Shami, a veteran al-Qaeda leader
from Damascus, held the title of
general military commander for al-
Nusra Front.
Last week, members of the armed
group had said he had been killed in a US drone strike.
But on Thursday, it said Shami had
been killed earlier that day when he
was in a meeting with other senior
al-Nusra commanders.
Thursday's air strike came a day after the group claimed responsibility for a
deadly attack on the intelligence
headquarters of Syria's air force in
Aleppo.
Al Jazeera's Zeina Khodr, reporting
from neighbouring Lebanon, said al-
Shami was considered "the military
brain behind" al-Nusra and that his
death is a "huge blow" to the group.
Syria is fighting the Islamic State in
Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-
Nusra Front.
Our correspondent said al-Nusra has
pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda leader
Ayman al-Zawahiri and has defeated
moderate anti-Syria groups in the
north.
"There were some forces in the al-
Nusra Front contemplating the
possibility to sever ties with al-
Qaeda, and this is why analysts are
saying that this strike could have
been part of an internal power
struggle," she said.
She added that the strike "was a
major security breach, which means
that there was some sort of
intelligence information provided for
the strike to have been carried out".
Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon
spokesman, said: "We cannot confirm
press reports of the deaths of senior
al-Nusra leaders near the province of
Idlib."
However, he added: "Neither the US
or the coalition have conducted air
strikes near that location in recent
days."
Al-Nusra first surfaced on the internet
in early 2012 to claim responsibility
for suicide bombings in Aleppo and
Damascus.
The well-armed group, with highly
trained fighters, has since staged
numerous attacks on security forces -
as well as on other armed groups in
the country.
Now, its leaders are reportedly
considering cutting their links with al- Qaeda to form a purely Syrian entity.
A rebranding could free up more
funding, as al-Nusra is sanctioned by
the UN Security Council and listed as
a terrorist group by the US.
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