[ARA News] ERBIL – Leader of the military operations of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria’s Palmyra has been killed in an airstrike by the Syrian air force near al-Shaer oilfield in Palmyra suburb in the Syrian central province of Homs, local sources reported. Speaking to ARA News in Palmyra, a civil rights activist confirmed the death of the ISIS senior leader Hajj Hassan Salafi (aka Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Shami) earlier this week in a Syrian airstrike in ad-Duwwa district near al-Shaer oilfield.
“ISIS militants in Palmyra paid farewell to their commander Hajj Hassan Salafi on Wednesday after an airstrike by the Syrian air force,” he said.
“Salafi, who descends from the Bedouin clan of al-Fawaera in Homs, has led the ISIS military operations against opposition forces and pro-regime troops in the province of Homs. He has been recently promoted by the radical group as leader of Palmyra operations,” the source said on the condition of anonymity.
“Salafi’s death is considered a heavy loss for ISIS, as he was one of the most committed leading members of the group in central Syria, especially that ISIS suffers internal rifts at the moment,” the source added.