Senior Al-Nusra Commander Killed in Aleppo As Syrian Army, Allies Score New Advances

Local Editor

The senior terrorist al-Nusra Front commander, known under the alias Abu Omar Saraqeb, was reportedly killed in a targeted airstrike on the village of Kafr Naha, 15 km north of Aleppo.

This comes as the Syrian army and its allies regained control over Ramousah district.

The airstrike reportedly hit a group of Jabhat Fath al-Sham militants as they were convening a meeting in the village on Thursday. Apart from Saraqeb, several other top commanders are said to have been destroyed in the raid. While there is so far no official data on who was behind the attack, unconfirmed reports cited by the outlet suggested it was carried out by a US warplane operating in the area.

Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, previously known as al-Nusra Front, was an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. In late July the group's leader Mohamad Golani claimed it had severed ties with the former patrons to emerge under a new name.

It comes at the time Syrian troops and allies continue to score significant gains in southern Aleppo, regaining control over strategically important Ramousah neighborhood. Its recapture will now allow the transfer of supplies to the government-held areas in the west of the city directly from its southern edge.

Earlier, the supplies had to take the long route circumventing the terrorists-held areas in the north and east of Aleppo.

"Units of our armed forces in cooperation with allied forces control the gas works, the tannery, the slaughterhouse, the post office and the military checkpoint area of Ramousah in Aleppo," a Syrian military source said, speaking of the advances made in course of the large-scale offensive.

Source: News agencies, Edited by website team