The Syrian Salvation Front, a new coalition of 20 rebel groups in Idlib, announced its formation. Abdollah Eskandari, a former officer in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was killed and reportedly beheaded in Syria. The Al Nusrah Front and the Islamic Front clashed with regime forces in Reef Dimashq; Aleppo; Latakia; and in Deraa, where they were joined by rebels. Regime forces dropped barrel bombs on an eye hospital in Aleppo that was serving as a base for the Islamic Front. Islamic and rebel fighters battled regime forces in Hama. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham fought against Al Nusrah and Islamic fighters in Deir Izzour; and clashed with Kurdish YPG forces in Hasakah, where ISIS reportedly stormed a village and executed at least 10 residents. The Kurdish YPG denied responsibility for a car bombing of the Lazord hotel in Raqqah that killed at least 10 ISIS militants several days ago. The commander of the Free Syrian Army called for a boycott of the presidential election. Syria’s UN envoy asked why the UN has not responded to Syria’s numerous complaints about the possession of chemical weapons by armed terrorist groups in Syria and the involvement of certain regional countries in the issue, and urged the UN to hold accountable those countries that have been supporting terrorism in Syria.
