Head of powerful Islamist group killed outside Damascus

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—The leader of one of Syria's most powerful Islamist groups was killed in an air strike on Friday near the capital Damascus.

Zahran Alloush the founder and head of Jaish al-Islam was killed in what is believed to be a Russian air strike east of the capital, the Syrian army said.

Several other rebel leaders and Alloush’s deputy were also killed in the attack.

Alloush, 44, was in a meeting with other rebel leaders.

Jaish al-Islam is backed by Saudi Arabia and it recently joined a summit of opposition groups in Riyadh.

According to a report by al-Arabiya TV, 10 rockets hit where Alloush and his fellow-rebel leaders were meeting.

AFP news agency quoted Syrian state TV as saying that the rebel leaders were killed in “special operation” by the army, but activists believe it was a Russian air strike.