Issam Zahreddine, top Assad aide, killed in Deir Ezzor: activists

(Zaman Al Wasl)- M. Gen Issam Zahreddine, the prominent Republican Guard officer and regime military commander in Deir Ezzor province, has been killed by a landmine, local activists said on Wednesday.

The notorious general, 56, who gained fame for footages of slaughtering ISIS and rebel fighters in the eastern Syria, has been killed in Huwaijet Saker town as regime army as the regime army and allied forces pushed into the remaining ISIS-held districts east of Deir Ezzor province.

Zahreddine was born in southern Suweida province, the main stronghold of Druze sect.

Analysts say the top Assad’s military aide may had been killed by the Syrian regime over Russian advice to get ride of senior commanders who succeeded in mobilising thousands of soldiers and who gained popularity amid pro-regime loyalists.

Few weeks ago, Zahreddine's statement threatening refugees to not returning home has sparked wide rage on social media that pushed the Syrian regime to ask him refuting his own statement later.