Unidentified individuals assassinated cleric in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Unidentified individuals assassinated an employee at the Dar al-Ifta (Islamic advisory body) of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor, east Syria.
Unknown gunmen, who were riding a motorbike, shot dead Youssef al-Askar, member of Dar al-Ifta of the Deir ez-Zor Civil Council, when leaving the mosque, a local source from al-Janina town, west of Deir ez-Zor, said.
The attackers chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) when opened fire, which is usually chanted by ISIS militants, the source added.
Al-Askar was imam of Omar Ibn al-Khattab mosque in the town of al-Janina, and he was an IDP, according to the town’s residents.
The eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor has been witnessing broad-scale assassinations targeting Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) members, employees of the AANES institutions, tribal figures and civilians.
On May 15, imam of mosque in al-Busayra town, east of Deir ez-Zor, was wounded as he was targeted by unknown persons.