The leader of the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who entered the Syrian city of Aleppo on Saturday, may have died in a Russian missile strike, according to reports.
Ahmed Hussein al-Shar’a, known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani, died in a Russian airstrike, hours after his men stormed into Aleppo killing the Syrian troops fighting for President President Bashar al-Assad, The Times of Israel quoted Arab media reports.
However, Russia has not confirmed or denied the news reports. However, pictures purportedly showing the dead body of Al-Julani have been circulating on social media.
Russian Defence Ministry, however, claimed on Saturday that its air force conducted strikes on Syrian rebels in support of the Syrian army. As per the statement, the air raids were focused on "militant concentrations, command posts, depots, and artillery positions" in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.
Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the commander of the Syrian rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, arrives in Aleppo. Syrian forces and their Shi'ite allies are nowhere to be seen and must be in shock at recent developments. pic.twitter.com/BExCoF7J1c
— Eretz Yisrael 24 (@EretzYisrael24) November 30, 2024
According to Arab media sources, Syrian and Russian warplanes rained bombs on the hideout of the HTS in Syria. Al-Julani was present at the headquarters along with several commanders and members when the attack took place, the reports added.
This comes as the HTS launched a massive attack on Syrian army positions in Aleppo on Wednesday morning, in a bold rebel attack in years. The HTS, once known as the Nusra Front, is designated a terrorist group by the U.S., Russia, Turkey and other states. The US had placed a a $10 million bounty on Al-Julani's head after declaring him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
In an earlier interview, Al-Julani claimed that his HTS was fighting for the Syrians who wanted to change a ruler and a regime. He said there was still international recognition for al-Assad "though he carried out tens of chemical attacks against his people."
"He destroyed schools, killed children and women, dropped barrel bombs on people in villages and towns, and destroyed great civilizations, like Homs and Aleppo," Al-Julani told Frontline in 2021.
Al-Julai had earlier pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda and worked with ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
