Syrian troops kill military commander of al-Qaida affiliates

The Syrian army on Thursday killed the general military commander of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front during a "qualitative" operation in the northwestern province of Idlib, the state news agency SANA reported.

The military commander, who goes by the nom de guerre of Abu Hammam al-Shami, was killed along with other leaders of the Nusra Front, when a Syrian military unit targeted their meeting in the town of Habait in the countryside of Idlib, said SANA, spelling no further details.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the targeting of the Nusra leaders' meeting in Idlib, saying the reports are conflicting whether it was the Syrian army or the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition that targeted the meeting.

It said the destiny of Abu Muhammad al-Golani, the ultimate leader of the Nusra Front, is still unknown amid reports that he was in the targeted area.

The Nusra Front has recently focused its attacks on the Syrian troops and the so-called "moderate" rebel militants in Idlib to establish a stronghold in that area close to the Turkish borders.

The Thursday attack, however, is considered a strong blow to al-Qaida-affiliated groups in Syria. Endit