Issam Zahreddine

Issam Jad'aan Zahreddine (Arabic: عِصَام جَدْعَان زَهْر الدِّين, romanized: ʿIṣām Jadʿān Zahr ad-Dīn, 9 September 1961 – 18 October 2017 sometimes called as Issam Zaher Eldin or Issam Zaher al-Deen, was a Major General of the Syrian Republican Guard.^[2][3][4] He played a major role in the Syrian Civil War, leading government forces on several fronts.^[5] His most prominent role was the leadership of the surrounded Syrian forces during the over three-year long Siege of Deir ez-Zor.

Issam Zahreddine
Nickname	"Lion of the Republican Guard"[1] "The Druze Beast"
Born	1961 Tarba, As-Suwayda, Syria
Died	18 October 2017(2017-10-18) (aged 56) Hawijat Saqr, Deir ez-Zor
Allegiance	Syria
Service/branch	Syrian Arab Army
Years of service	1980–2017
Rank	Major General
Unit	Syrian Republican Guard
Commands held	Republican Guard's 104th Brigade[2] Commander of SAA troops in Aleppo (July – October 2013) Commander of Republican Guards in Deir ez-Zor (October 2013 – October 2017)
Battles/wars	Syrian civil war Rif Dimashq offensive (November 2012–February 2013) 2013 Damascus offensive Rif Dimashq offensive (March–August 2013) Battle of Aleppo (2012–2016) Deir ez-Zor clashes (2011–14) Siege of Deir ez-Zor (2014–17) Battle of Al-Hasakah (June–August 2015)

Syrian news agencies reported on 18 October 2017, that Zahreddine was killed by a land mine explosion during operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on Saqr island in Deir ez-Zor.^[6]