Syria says al-Qaida linked group's leader killed

Ian Black, Middle East editor
theguardian.com, Friday 25 October 2013 22.30 BST

Syrian state media reported the death of the leader of Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaida linked group fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Abu Mohammad al-Golani was said to have been killed in the Latakia area, but the report could not be independently verified.

If confirmed, the death of Golani would be a severe blow to one of the two main jihadi-type formations on the rebel side of the Syrian conflict and a further boost to the government's morale after recent political and military successes.

Pro-Syrian media in Lebanon also reported the dramatic news. But social media quoted another Nusra leader, Abu Ilyas, as insisting that al-Joulani was alive.

Jabhat al-Nusra (JAN) first announced its existence in early 2012, and it has claimed responsibility for many suicide bombings. It is is considered one of the better equipped, trained and financed of the many anti-Assad groups in the country. The US has designated it as a terrorist organiszation. It is thought to have some 7000 fighters.

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