Al-Qaeda leader killed in Syria — Daily Mail

One of al-Qaeda's senior commanders in Syria has been killed in a gun battle with Syrian Arab Army forces in Aleppo, according to The Daily Mail.

The al-Nusra Front, the Sunni Islamic jihadist militia fighting against Syrian Government forces in the civil war, confirmed Sheikh Abu Sulaiman al-Masri's death this morning, the report reads.

Images of his body, containing a bloody head wound, have been shared online with early reports suggesting he died fighting Assad forces.

Al-Masri's real name is believed to be Mahmud Maghwari, an Egyptian national, who had previously been sentenced to death in his homeland for fighting with Hamas in Gaza. 

He was killed while commanding troops in Aleppo during a battle against Kurdish forces.

The experienced jihadi had previously had to have his thumb and several fingers amputated after they were badly damaged during in a battle.

The senior commander's death is considered a serious blow to the terror group's operations in the war torn Middle Eastern country.