AZAZ, Syria (Reuters) - A Syrian star football player turned fighter who became an icon of the revolt died on Saturday after getting injured battling government forces in the northwest, his faction said. Sarout, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza rebel faction, died two days after sustaining injuries in battle in the northern Hama countryside. Battles intensified in northwest Syria on Friday after insurgents mounted an attack to repel an army offensive that has pounded the country's last major rebel stronghold for weeks. Assad has reclaimed much of Syria after crushing rebel bastions with the help of Russia and Iran. Four of Sarout's brothers, as well as his father, had all died in earlier fighting against pro-government forces.

Source: The Star June 08, 2019 14:48 UTC