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An artillery position of Jaysh al-Izza located in the vicinity of the town of al-Lataminah in northern Hama was destroyed by Russian warplanes in the noon of May 24.
Syrian opposition activists acknowledged that the Russian airstrikes wiped out the position, killing many militants, including a commander known as Captain Muhanad Diob.
Diaob was a senior commander in Jaysh al-Izza’s Artillery and Rockets Regiment. The militant, who is originally from the town of Khan Shaykhun, defected from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in 2012.
Captain Muhanad Diaob. Click to see full-size image
The death of Diabo is major blow to Jaysh al-Izza that lost more than 17 of its best fighters and commanders in the battle of Kafr Nabudah.
The Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) are currently conducting extensive airstrikes on militants’ positions in Idlib and its surroundings. This aerial campaign indicates that the SAA could resume its ground operation in northwestern Hama soon.
