A top Islamic State commander has died while receiving treatment in Damascus. He had suffered serious wounds, two weeks ago, while fighting pro-regime forces on the southern outskirts of the city. A well-informed source told Damascus Voice that commander Abu Khalil Tayyarah had been referred to the Al-Mahayni Hospital in the Syrian capital as part of a deal between the Islamic State and the Syrian regime
The deal was for IS to hand over the corpses of over 50 pro-regime fighters. That gesture would, in return, secure the release of several female prisoners held in Syrian prisons Tayyarah was one of the prominent IS commanders in southern Damascus and had been fighting mostly against Syrian rebels at the Yalada frontlines
He was also related to IS former Emir Abu Sayyah Tayyarah, locally known as the “meatgrinder”, a reference to his bloodlust. The Syrian regime is expected to return Tayyarah’s body for burial in in the IS-held pocket of south Damascus
Two weeks ago, the organisation attacked rebel-held Al-Madiniyeh neighbourhood while rebels were being deported northwards under a deal with the Syrian regime
When the fighting subsided, the fight for control of the district had cost the lives of more than 50 pro-regime fighters. Islamic State reportedly lost considerably less. This is not the first time IS wounded were found receiving treatment in Damascus hospitals
It is actually part of an old deal made with the Military Intelligence’s Palestine Branch where all critically wounded IS fighters are allowed a safe passage to receive specialist treatment at Damascus hospitals
