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| Syria conflict: Blast kills leader of Ahrar al-Sham rebels | Syria conflict: Blast kills leader of Ahrar al-Sham rebels |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The leader of one of the biggest Islamist rebel groups in Syria has been killed by an explosion in the north-western province of Idlib. | The leader of one of the biggest Islamist rebel groups in Syria has been killed by an explosion in the north-western province of Idlib. |
| Ahrar al-Sham said Hassan Abboud was among a number of senior figures who died in the blast at the group's headquarters in the town of Ram Hamdan. | Ahrar al-Sham said Hassan Abboud was among a number of senior figures who died in the blast at the group's headquarters in the town of Ram Hamdan. |
| There were conflicting reports about the cause of the blast and it was also unclear who was responsible. | |
| Islamic State was accused of killing an Ahrar al-Sham leader earlier this year. | Islamic State was accused of killing an Ahrar al-Sham leader earlier this year. |
| The jihadist group has been battling rebel groups for control of northern and eastern Syria since January, when they launched a co-ordinated offensive to expel it from the country. | The jihadist group has been battling rebel groups for control of northern and eastern Syria since January, when they launched a co-ordinated offensive to expel it from the country. |
| Thousands of people have been killed in the infighting, which President Bashar al-Assad's forces have exploited. | Thousands of people have been killed in the infighting, which President Bashar al-Assad's forces have exploited. |
| 'Gas attack' | 'Gas attack' |
| The explosion targeted a meeting of as many as 50 Ahrar al-Sham leaders in a basement at the group's heavily fortified headquarters. | The explosion targeted a meeting of as many as 50 Ahrar al-Sham leaders in a basement at the group's heavily fortified headquarters. |
| The Islamic Front, a rebel umbrella group in which Ahrar al-Sham was the strongest faction, said that Abboud was among at least a dozen senior figures killed. | The Islamic Front, a rebel umbrella group in which Ahrar al-Sham was the strongest faction, said that Abboud was among at least a dozen senior figures killed. |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - an activist group monitoring the conflict in Syria - put the death toll at 28. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - an activist group monitoring the conflict in Syria - put the death toll at 28. |
| The cause of the blast was not immediately clear. Ahrar al-Sham said there had been a car bombing, while opposition activists initially reported that a suicide bomber had blown himself up at the meeting. Some have described the incident as a "gas attack". | The cause of the blast was not immediately clear. Ahrar al-Sham said there had been a car bombing, while opposition activists initially reported that a suicide bomber had blown himself up at the meeting. Some have described the incident as a "gas attack". |
| Abu Baraa, a member of a rebel group allied to Ahrar al-Sham, told the Reuters news agency that a doctor who had examined the bodies said there was little visible sign of external injuries. | Abu Baraa, a member of a rebel group allied to Ahrar al-Sham, told the Reuters news agency that a doctor who had examined the bodies said there was little visible sign of external injuries. |
| The doctor saw bodies with frothing at the mouth and fluid coming from the eyes and noses, Abu Baraa said, adding: "This was a highly sophisticated attack in a location that was very secure." | The doctor saw bodies with frothing at the mouth and fluid coming from the eyes and noses, Abu Baraa said, adding: "This was a highly sophisticated attack in a location that was very secure." |
| On Wednesday morning, Ahrar al-Sham announced that Hashem al-Sheikh, known as Abu Jaber, would succeed Abboud as leader, while Abu Saleh Tahhan would be its new military chief. | On Wednesday morning, Ahrar al-Sham announced that Hashem al-Sheikh, known as Abu Jaber, would succeed Abboud as leader, while Abu Saleh Tahhan would be its new military chief. |
| "A group of the best leaders of Ahrar al-Sham have been martyred. But Ahrar al-Sham is more determined than ever to continue on the path to liberating our country from dictators," a video statement said. | "A group of the best leaders of Ahrar al-Sham have been martyred. But Ahrar al-Sham is more determined than ever to continue on the path to liberating our country from dictators," a video statement said. |
| Islamic rule | Islamic rule |
| The Islamic State (IS) militant group is the most likely quarter to be blamed for the attack, reports the BBC's Jim Muir. | The Islamic State (IS) militant group is the most likely quarter to be blamed for the attack, reports the BBC's Jim Muir. |
| It was accused of being behind a suicide bombing that killed another Ahrar al-Sham leader - Abu Khaled al-Suri, a veteran al-Qaeda operative - at his headquarters in Aleppo in February. However, IS subsequently denied any involvement. | It was accused of being behind a suicide bombing that killed another Ahrar al-Sham leader - Abu Khaled al-Suri, a veteran al-Qaeda operative - at his headquarters in Aleppo in February. However, IS subsequently denied any involvement. |
| Abboud, who was also known as Abu Abdullah al-Hamawi, was imprisoned by the Syrian authorities after taking part in the insurgency in Iraq but released in early 2011 as part of an amnesty. | Abboud, who was also known as Abu Abdullah al-Hamawi, was imprisoned by the Syrian authorities after taking part in the insurgency in Iraq but released in early 2011 as part of an amnesty. |
| He helped found Ahrar al-Sham (Free Men of the Levant) in Idlib province in late 2011 and in December 2012 formed the Syrian Islamic Front (SIF) with 10 other hardline Islamist groups. | He helped found Ahrar al-Sham (Free Men of the Levant) in Idlib province in late 2011 and in December 2012 formed the Syrian Islamic Front (SIF) with 10 other hardline Islamist groups. |
| Before its dissolution in November 2013, when the creation of the Islamic Front was announced, SIF had become the most powerful rebel force. | Before its dissolution in November 2013, when the creation of the Islamic Front was announced, SIF had become the most powerful rebel force. |
| The Islamic Front refuses to come under the umbrella of the Western-backed Supreme Military Council (SMC) of the Free Syrian Army, but co-operates with SMC-aligned brigades on the battlefield, as well as the al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria. | The Islamic Front refuses to come under the umbrella of the Western-backed Supreme Military Council (SMC) of the Free Syrian Army, but co-operates with SMC-aligned brigades on the battlefield, as well as the al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria. |
| Our correspondent says the death of Abboud comes at a moment when the US government is seeking to unify the Syrian opposition into a co-ordinated fighting force against IS, although Ahrar al-Sham would have made an unlikely partner in such an American-led campaign. | Our correspondent says the death of Abboud comes at a moment when the US government is seeking to unify the Syrian opposition into a co-ordinated fighting force against IS, although Ahrar al-Sham would have made an unlikely partner in such an American-led campaign. |
| Its goal is to establish Islamic rule, not democracy, in Syria. | Its goal is to establish Islamic rule, not democracy, in Syria. |