Top Syrian rebel killed in airstrike

Powerful Syrian rebel chief Zahran Alloush was killed in a regime air-strike east of Damascus, dealing blows to both the nearly five-year uprising and a fragile peace process. Alloush (44) was the commander of the Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) movement, the predominant opposition faction in the eastern Ghouta rebel bastion of Damascus.

He and five other commanders were killed “in an airstrike that targeted one of their meetings in Eastern Ghouta” on Saturday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A senior member of Jaish al-Islam confirmed Alloush’s death, saying three planes targeted a “secret meeting” of commanders.

The Syrian government and its media regularly refer to Jaish al-Islam as “terrorists,” and state television did so again in the news alert announcing Alloush’s death.

In a statement carried by state television, Syria’s Army command said it had conducted the “special operation” that killed Alloush as part of its “national mission.” A Syrian security source said “dozens” of rebel fighters were killed in the raids.