Posted on 12/25/2015 1:30:07 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The head of the most powerful Syrian insurgent group in the rebel-held suburbs of Damascus was killed on Friday in a Russian air strike on the secret headquarters of his group, rebel sources said.
The Syrian army confirmed the death of Zahran Alloush, whose Jaysh al Islam grouping has thousands of fighters and is the biggest rebel faction in the area.
Several rebel group leaders have been killed since Russia launched its air campaign on Sept. 30 in support of President Bashar al-Assad, whose troops had suffered a series of setbacks in a civil war now nearing the end of its fifth year. No immediate comment was available from the Russian defense or foreign ministries.
Alloush's removal dealt a major blow to rebel control of the eastern rural suburbs of Damascus, known as al-Ghouta.
It came as around 2,000 Islamist fighters, including members of Islamic State and al Qaeda's Nusra Front, prepared to be evacuated by bus from a rebel-held part of southern Damascus that has been besieged by government forces for years.
They are due to leave under a United Nations-brokered deal that marks another success for the Assad government, increasing its chances of reasserting control over a strategic area just 4 km (2.5 miles) south of the center of the capital.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaysh_al-Islam
Jaysh al-Islam (Arabic: جيش الإسلام‎, meaning Army of Islam), formerly known as Liwa al-Islam or the Brigade of Islam, is a coalition of multiple Islamist and Salafist units involved in the Syrian Civil War.[17] Its primary base of operations are the Damascus neighbourhoods of Douma and Eastern Ghouta.[3] Jaysh al-Islam is the largest rebel faction in the area,[27] as was its predecessor.[28] The group is part of the Islamic Front.[8] The organization has rejected membership of the Free Syrian Army.[29] It has been critical of Hamas, accusing Khaled Mashal of having Iranian links.[30]
The headlines this morning gave the impression that the US killed him. Friggin’ media.
Well, it looks like the Russians killed the right guy.
Why are they being allowed to escape? Is it because the UN and US are in on this together? Is this another phony war?
That’s going to spoil Obola’s relaxing golf game.
I watched this video of him, not ISIS but wanted an Islamic government. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv8FNZkFz_k
There are legitimate reasons why this would be done.
Me ... I think some nice FAE drops on them.
Praise the Lord. Get em Vlad. Our fag in chief is too much of a blubbering vagina to do anything.
We don’t kill anyone any more. Unless they are in a wedding party. Or Iraqi soldiers.
Oh no . . . Not Zahran Alloush the clock maker.
Maybe we keep delivering leaflets telling them we are going to bomb them is the reason they were evacuating. When we stop telling the enemy where and when we are coming, then maybe they will evacuate by casket rather than some bus.
Now that's a vision to behold...........
The UN “thinking” heads want to marry these antagonists so they can make war on Israel. Not easy to marry shia and Sunis, nor easy to marry Russia and Europeans, and then there is Turkey.
Russia has a better strategy than marrying the impossible, but to play with divisions and stick with their guys. The divisive explosion will not blow up in its face
yeah but that wouldn’t be good press for Obama.
he doesn’t want these guys killed and the press knows it.
not that most people have any idea what is going on over there anyway.
maybe Russian jets will kill them all on their way out
was I wrong or was that a deal with ISIS. I’ve not read of such a deal.
perhaps it is wrong? doesn’t make sense.
No, it is correct. BBC talked about it in some depth. Assad basically had a year or more stalemate with the ISIS and other rebel forces. The rebels (and ISIS) can easily blend into the civilian population. They way to defeat the rebels and ISIS in those situations is to let them and their families travel safely to rebel or ISIS territory. Once they are there they can be attacked all in good time. The main point is to get them to leave rather than blend in.
surely they must know this though, no?
I guess Russia is having an impact. is it they who forced them out?
Allahu Fubar!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.