On November 20, the commander of a local pro-government group was assassinated in Syria’s Damascus suburb of Harasta.
The commander, Abdullah al-Aus, was starting his car when an improvised explosive device, which was planted under it, blew up. The explosion ripped off both legs of al-Aus, who surrendered to his wounds in a Damascus hospital a few hours later.
Click to see full-size image
Al-Aus, 46, formed a pro-government group dubbed the “Lion Cubs” in the early years of the Syrian war. The group took part in several military operations in Hama, Homs and around Damascus.
The commander, a native of Harasta, joined the Syrian Arab Army 25th Special Forces Division, commonly known as the “Tiger Forces,” a while ago.
Abdullah al-Aus, Click to see full-size image
A group by the name “Saraya Qasioun” claimed responsibility for the assassination of al-Aus. Nevertheless, opposition sources speculated that al-Aus was murdered as the result of many disagreements he had with other pro-government commanders.
Several similar attacks targeted local pro-government figures and commanders in Damascus and its suburbs over the last two years. Many of the perpetrators have been already apprehended by Syrian authorities, which maintain a strong grip on the capital.
