Russian air strike kills Free Syrian Army commander

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The "Free Syrian Army", confirmed the death of its chief of staff, Basil Zamo, formerly a captain in the Syrian military. He was killed by  a Russian air strike
The “Free Syrian Army”, confirmed the death of its chief of staff, Basil Zamo, formerly a captain in the Syrian military. He was killed by a Russian air strike

Russian air strikes in Syria’s Latakia province killed a rebel commander and four other fighters from a group armed by President Bashar al-Assad’s foreign enemies, a spokesman for the group said on Tuesday.

The attack on Monday evening marked the third time Russian war planes have targeted the First Coastal Division group since Moscow began its air strikes in support of President Bashar al-Assad on Sept. 30, the group’s spokesman Fadi Ahmad said.

He said a further 15 civilians had been killed in the air strike in Jabal Akrad, a rural, mountainous area in the province. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights earlier put the death toll at 45 rebels and civilians.

The First Coastal Division is one of several groups that have received foreign military support including U.S.-made anti-tank missiles, the most potent weapon in the rebels’ arsenal.

The group, which fights under the umbrella of the “Free Syrian Army”, confirmed the death of its chief of staff, Basil Zamo, formerly a captain in the Syrian military.

Ahmad said a fighter trained in the use of the anti-tank TOW missiles had also been killed. The Russian jets had struck one of the group’s headquarters, and then struck the same target again after rescue workers had arrived on the scene.

“They have hit us three times now. They are hitting us on the grounds of Daesh, but they are hitting the ones who do them most damage – the Free Syrian Army,” said Ahmad, speaking from the area via an internet messaging system.

Daesh is an Arabic name for Islamic State.

Russia’s air strike campaign in Syria has killed 370 people, one third of them civilians, since it started three weeks ago, the Observatory said on Tuesday.

FSA groups, often led by former Syrian army officers, have widely been eclipsed by jihadists including the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and Islamic State. Though they describe themselves as part of an army, they do not operate with a centralized command and control structure.

Some FSA groups have received support including military training by the Central Intelligence Agency. Assad’s main foreign foes include Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.

The commander of another such group, the Nour al Din al-Zinki Brigades, was killed in fighting south of Aleppo on Monday.

The Syrian army backed by fighters from Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah have launched a series of ground offensives against insurgent-held areas of western and northwestern Syria since Russia began air strikes in the country.

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8 responses to “Russian air strike kills Free Syrian Army commander”

  1. nagy_michael2 Avatar
    nagy_michael2

    But i thought the Russians are fighting ISIS. yah that beard of his defines him as Takfiri allright. what a farce this Assad and Putin are.

    1. Maborlz Ez-Hari Avatar
      Maborlz Ez-Hari

      This guy was given up by the US, he figured the whole show is a scam. No beard was symbolic of his good intentions but his number was up and he was wasted. Putin’s boys did the deed and Obama’s star spangled banner sold him out.

      1. You are probably right bikhshee

        1. Maborlz Ez-Hari Avatar
          Maborlz Ez-Hari

          Again you forgot to say again.

          1. If that’s all it takes to get you off again

          2. Maborlz Ez-Hari Avatar
            Maborlz Ez-Hari

            Your getting very boring.

          3. You were always boring

    2. Anti ISIS Avatar

      Don’t forget Nagy that picture was taken during his time in the Syrian military. I’d be curious to see what he looks like now. I bet his beard is down to his chest now. I also bet he regrets becoming a deserter. Ah well, at least he can enjoy his virgins in heaven.

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