Zahran Alloush, the head of Jaysh al Islam, one of the most powerful rebel groups fighting in the suburbs of Damascus, was killed in an aerial raid that targeted his group’s headquarters.
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They said a secret headquarters of the group, which is the largest rebel faction in the area and has thousands of fighters, was targeted by what they described as Russian planes.
Several rebel group leaders have been killed since Russia began a major aerial campaign on Sept. 30 in support of its ally Syrian ruler Bashar Assad, whose troops earlier in the year had suffered a series of setbacks.
Jaysh al Islam, with thousands of trained fighters, is the biggest and considered the most organized rebel group. It has been effectively running the administration of Eastern Ghouta.