Russian airstrikes in Syria’s Latakia province killed a top rebel commander from a group backed by Western powers, including the U.S., a monitoring group said on Tuesday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 45 people — both anti-Assad rebel fighters and civilians — were killed in the bombing on Monday night in the Jabal Akrad area, Reuters reported.
The area is controlled by the First Coastal Division rebel group, which is one of the groups that make up the Free Syrian Army.
The group confirmed the death of its chief of staff, Basil Zamo, formerly a captain in the Syrian military, Reuters reported.
The First Coastal Division is one of several groups that have received support from the U.S., including military training by the CIA.
The commander of another anti-Assad group, the Nour al Din al-Zinki Bridgades, was killed in fighting south of Aleppo on Monday, Reuters reported.
Russia has said its air campaign, which began three weeks ago, is aimed at helping the government take out Islamic State militants and other terrorists, but many of the Kremlin’s airstrikes have targeted Syrian rebels threatening embattled President Bashar Assad’s regime.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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