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The Latest: Senior Syrian commander killed in eastern city

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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BEIRUT – The Latest on the developments in Syria after the liberation of the city of Raqqa from the Islamic State group (all times local):

3 p.m.

A media outlet affiliated with the Syrian military says a senior commander who led the fight against Islamic Sate militants in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour has been killed.

The Central Military Media said on Wednesday that Brig. Gen. Issam Zahreddine was killed in Hawija Saqr, east of Deir el-Zour, in operations against IS militants.

The Lebanese Al-Manar TV, which is close to the Syrian government, said a land mine killed him.

Zahreddine was a key commander in the Syrian army, maintaining a government presence in Deir el-Zour despite a nearly three years-long siege on his forces. The siege was breached in September in a Russian-backed offensive, and the government and allied troops have since seized most of the city.

Zahreddine, who was in his late 50s, also led government offensives against armed opposition in the central Homs province and near the capital, Damascus, in the earlier days of the Syrian conflict.

In comments widely played after Deir el-Zour's siege was breached, Zareddine warned those who fled the country not to return because the army "will never forget or forgive." He later apologized on state TV.

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11:30 a.m.

The spokesman for U.S.-backed forces fighting Islamic State militants in Syria says the fighters are removing land mines and clearing main roads in the city of Raqqa, a day after they announced it was captured.

Mustafa Bali, the Syrian Democratic Forces spokesman, says preparations are also underway on Wednesday for a formal declaration of the liberation.

SDF announced on Tuesday that their troops have taken full control of the city, once the heart of IS' self-styled caliphate.

Brett McGurk, the top U.S. envoy for the coalition battling the Islamic State group, is in northern Syria. He posted a photograph of surrendering IS militants, saying: "once purported as fierce, now pathetic and a lost cause."

McGurk says the United States will help in clearing explosives and restoring services in the city.