Two IS leaders killed in Syria airstrike

(Baonghean.vn) - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said two leaders of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) were killed in an airstrike in northeastern Syria on Monday, July 13.

A bus passes damaged buildings along a street in Al-Shaar, Aleppo, Syria on July 13.

The monitor identified the two leaders as an Iraqi named Abu Osama al-Iraq and a Syrian named Amer al-Rafdan. It also said the airstrike was believed to have been carried out by the US-led coalition targeting the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, although Rami Abdulrahman, the head of the monitoring group, said he was not sure of the authenticity of the source. Abdulrahman said al-Iraq was considered the "governor" of the northeastern Syrian province. Rafdan had previously been the "governor" of Deir al-Zor province.

The Syrian army and militias are carrying out separate operations against IS in the area bordering Turkey to the north and Iraq to the east. IS militants are fighting in Hasaka province against both pro-government forces and Kurdish fighters – who are supported by the US-led coalition.

Last week, US President Barack Obama said the coalition was stepping up operations in northern Syria. The Kurdish YPG militia has carried out a series of operations against IS in the north, including seizing control of the town of Tel Abyad on the Turkish border.

Last year, IS declared the establishment of an Islamic State to rule over all Muslims. Meanwhile, the US-led coalition has rejected the idea of ​​working with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to fight IS.

Phuong Thao (According to Reuters)