ISIS vs al-Qaida: Terror group leaders 'decimated' in suicide attack

Relations between the groups deteriorated when Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed himself to be the "leader of all Muslims".

Forced to share the spotlight after a string of ISIS outrages, al-Qaida declared war on their rival jihadis.

But the destruction of the competing side's leadership represents a serious escalation of the conflict.

The leader killed in the attack, Muhammad "Abu-Ali" al-Baridi - an infamous killer known as "The Uncle – was blown to bits, witnesses said.

"We heard the sound of a strong explosion coming from the former Baath Party headquarters in the village,” one told Syria direct.

"We ran to the place, and there were body parts scattered everywhere.”

And al-Nusra front, al-Qaida's Syrian arm, were quick to take credit for the massacre.

The group soon took to Twitter to gloat about the "heroic" attack and demanding ISIS surrender.

Responding, the Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade said: "The martyrdom of the leaders will only make us more determined."

"Blood and sacrifice is welcome for God’s sake,” the group added.

But Alex Fishman, a veteran military reporter for Israel's Yediot Aharonot, said the attack had wiped out the group's leadership.

He said: "The Islamic State that controls the area suffered a severe blow and lost its entire top command in the area in one fell swoop."

It's thought that the attack took place on November 15 in Golan Heights, Israel.

But a correspondent for Fox News speculated that the news was only now emerging because of the Paris terror attacks two days earlier.

(dailystar.co.uk)