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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Leadership of Anti-ISIS group "wiped out" in explosion
2014-09-16
Nearly fifty senior commanders of a major coalition of Islamic 'moderates' opposed to ISIS in Syria have been killed by an explosion at their secret lair command bunker as they met to discuss strategy against the the Islamic State.
Israelis? Americans? Ruritanians? Grand Duchy of Fenwick?
The blast in the Northwest region of Idlib, Syria on Tuesday killed senior members of rebel group the Ahrar-al-Sham brigade (AaS), including leader Hassan Abboud and 45 others including senior members from other rebel alliance groups, reports The Times. Sources dispute the source of the blast, with it being unclear whether it was an opposition group, suicide bomber, or accidental explosion at a nearby ammunition dump. Regardless, the incident will destabilise and possibly tear apart the AaS group and associated Islamic Front Coalition which was recently described as "the most powerful armed group in Syria".

Islamic group Ahrar-al-Sham, whose name translates as 'The Free Men of Syria', is one of many movements competing in the inter-rebel conflict in Syria. A number of rebel groups are presently fighting each other as well as besieged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose power base is in West and South-West, for overall control of the Region. As the main rival to ISIS for control of Syria, the AAS blast if not orchestrated by the Islamic State will certainly be greatly beneficial to them. The 'decapitation' strategy, targeting Ahrar-al-Sham's political, military and spiritual leadership is reminiscent of the United States' targeted strikes against the leadership of Al-Qaeda.

The death of Abboud and his followers in Idlib highlights the difficulty of Western involvement in the conflict, where enemies of the apparent first enemy ISIS also make fairly poor potential allies. Many members of AaS have come from groups like Al-Qaeda and would in any other context be considered hard line Islamists.

Ahrar-al-Sham has appointed a new leader, Hashim al-Sheikh, who will attempt to hold together the fragile coalition which has lost most of its senior thinkers and strategists. al-Sheik said the attack "will only make us more resilient to fight and continue the fight until we liberate our homeland" on Wednesday.
Posted by:Pappy

#5  Nearly fifty senior commanders of a major coalition of Islamic 'moderates' opposed to ISIS in Syria have been killed by an explosion at their secret lair

Clandestinely leaking lists or payments to 'Islamic moderates' [we are working with] to ISIS.... sounds like a plan. Autophagy targeting as it were.

Seed money please.

Posted by: Besoeker   2014-09-16 20:05  

#4  Ansar-Al-Sham-Wow! New and inproved
Posted by: Frank G   2014-09-16 19:53  

#3  Ethel, where's my damned roster or scorecard of militant groups in Syria and northern Iraq? Was Ahrar-al-Sham (AsS) one of the militant groups Obama was counting on? Two things noted: Any Muslim group that has "sham" in their name or is abbreviated "ASS" should be suspect.
Posted by: JohnQC   2014-09-16 18:24  

#2  


In keeping with the tradition of our country, some very nasty people have been, 'wiped out'.


Posted by: BigEd   2014-09-16 14:48  

#1  Other Islamic "moderates" no doubt got the message.
Posted by: Besoeker   2014-09-16 04:42  

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