Al Qaeda arrests prominent rebel commander in Atimah, north Syria

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) arrested Mustafa Abdullah, commander of Sokour al-Islam brigades (Islam's Hawks) in Atimah, according to Zaman Alwasl reporter.

The ISIL took control of the town of Atimah on the border with Turkey at the end of last week, further tilting the balance away from more moderate factions of the Free Syrian Army, CNN said.

Abdullah with many of his brigades' fighters are arrested in al-Dana town, the ‘Islamic State’ stronghold, where ISIL has its own court and laws.

 The man, who left his business in Hungary to join ranks of the armed opposition, is said to be free tomorrow after an intense mediation by people of the occupied town of Atimah.

The loss of Atimah will make it more difficult for brigades of the Free Syrian Army to bring in supplies from Turkey and get wounded fighters across the border to hospitals. It also may worsen the plight of internally displaced Syrians who have swollen the population of this northern corner of the country, according to CNN.