|
 Abu Humam al-Shami was killed by an explosion during a meeting of
Nusra Front leaders in Idlib province. Insurgent sources said at
least three other Nusra Front commanders were killed in the blast.
The Syrian state news agency SANA, quoting its correspondent, said
Abu Humam and a number of other Nusra leaders had been killed in an
army operation targeting the meeting held in the village of Hobait
in a rural area of Idlib.
Insurgent sources said the targeted meeting had been held in Salqin,
some 100 km (60 miles) to the north of Hobait.
 The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an organization that tracks
the war, said there was conflicting information on where Abu Humam
had been killed.
SANA also cited a military source saying the army had carried out
"concentrated strikes" against Nusra and other Islamist groups in
the Abu al-Dhuhur area, which lies to the northeast of Hobait.
Insurgent sources initially said the U.S.-led alliance had killed
Abu Humam in an air strike. But a coalition spokesman said it had
not conducted air strikes in the province during the past 24 hours.
[to top of second column] |
The Nusra Front has expanded its hold over Idlib province in recent
months, seizing territory from mainstream Syrian rebel groups that
have received Western backing.
Leaders of the Nusra Front are considering cutting their links with
al Qaeda to form a new entity backed by some Gulf states trying to
topple President Bashar al-Assad, sources have said.
(Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Gareth Jones)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
