Land Mine Kills Syrian Star Commander
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Senior Syrian commander Issam Zahreddine, who led the fight against Daesh (ISIL) in Deir ez-Zor, was killed Wednesday in operations against the militant group in Sakr Island, east of the embattled city, a Hezbollah-affiliated media unit reported.
The War Media Center described the brigadier general, 56, as one of the most important field commanders in the Syrian army, saying he was instrumental in breaking a nearly three-year Daesh siege on the city of Deir ez-Zor earlier this year. The media unit said a land mine killed him, the Daily Star reported.
Zahreddine, who headed the 104 Brigade of the Syrian Republican Guard, maintained a government presence in Deir ez-Zor despite the prolonged siege on his forces. The siege was breached in September in a Russian-backed offensive, and the government and allied troops have since retaken most of the city.
Zahreddine also led government offensives against armed opposition in the central Homs province and near the capital, Damascus, in the earlier days of the Syrian conflict.
On the southern front of Deir al-Zor province, the Syrian army and its allies progressed 8 kilometers along the Humeima-T2-Station road with a 5-kilometer buffer covering the road’s flanks, according to the War Media Center.
With the new advances, the Syrian forces are now positioned inside the administrative border of Deir ez-Zor with Homs, located around 9 kilometers from the T2 station.
