Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The leader of one of Syria’s most powerful Islamist rebel groups has been killed in an air strike, according to sources on the ground in the country.
Zahran Alloush, the head of Jaysh al-Islam, is thought to have been killed by Russian air strikes against rebels on the outskirts on Damascus.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights cites “leading sources” in Mr Alloush’s rebel group who say that that the commander was killed along with eight of his fellow fighters.
They are believed to have been killed after a meeting in the east of Damascus was targeted by Russian warplanes.
The head of Syrian’s opposition national coalition also said Mr Alloush had been killed and posted a message of condolence to him on Twitter.
Mr Alloush has previously used heavily sectarian language about the Alawite and Shiite ethnic groups and called for them to be “cleansed” from greater Syria.
He was noted as a charismatic leader of the group, and claimed Al Qaeda regional affiliate Al Nusrah front as an ally.
Jaysh al-Islam, also called Army of Islam, controls parts of the Syrian capital Damascus’s suburbs.
The group is in control of Eastern Ghouta, a significant outlying area in the capital region that has been under the control of opposition forces.
The Assad regime’s ground forces has been engaged in an assault on the region to try and claim it back.
Russian air strikes are targeting rebel groups in Syria, including Isis and other groups that have received western support.
The news comes amid reports that Isis and the Syrian government have reached a deal that would see the Islamist militant group withdrew from suburbs in the south of Damascus.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments