14 Facts About Issam Zahreddine

Issam Jad'aan Zahreddine was a Syrian military officer and former commander of the Syrian Republican Guard.

Issam Zahreddine played a major role in the Syrian Civil War, leading Syrian government forces on several fronts.

On 18 October 2017, Zahreddine was killed by a land mine explosion during operations against the Islamic State on Saqr island in Deir ez-Zor.

Issam Zahreddine was born in the small rural village of Tarba in the As-Suwayda Governorate in 1961.

Issam Zahreddine commanded the Republican Guard's 104th Brigade in Douma and Harasta alongside Brigadier General Manaf Tlass before the latter's defection.

Issam Zahreddine was sent in early 2012 to Homs where the SAA offensive against rebel groups was culminating in the siege and Battle of Baba Amr, in which his troops surrounded the neighbourhood, blocked supply routes and shelled it.

The lawsuit alleged that Issam Zahreddine planned the artillery attack along with Ali Mamluk, Director of Syria's National Intelligence Bureau and Rafiq Shahadah, former Director of Military Intelligence.

On 27 November 2013, while commanding his forces in al-Rashdiya district, Issam Zahreddine was wounded in the leg by a bullet.

Sometime after 2013, Issam Zahreddine was promoted from Brigadier General to Major General.

Issam Zahreddine led the 104th Airborne Brigade, which formed the core of the city's defense.

On 5 September 2017, Issam Zahreddine was congratulated by President Bashar Assad for his role at Deir ez-Zor during the over 3-year long siege of the city by ISIS.

Issam Zahreddine used the occasion to thank allies for lifting the siege and tell Syrian refugees to "never return", saying that "even if the state forgives you, we will never forgive nor forget".

On 18 October 2017, Issam Zahreddine was killed when his vehicle hit an ISIL land mine in Hawija Saqr near Deir Ezzor as he was conducting an operation against ISIL.

Issam Zahreddine's funeral took place in As-Suwayda on 20 October 2017.