THE LEADER of one of Syria's most prominent rebel units has died after being wounded during an attack by government troops , dealing another blow to fighters reeling from a series of recent battlefield losses.

The death of Abdul-Qadir Saleh, founder of the Tawhid Brigade followed advances by President Bashar al Assad's troops against rebels on two key fronts: the capture of a string of opposition-held suburbs near Damascus and the taking of two towns and a military base outside Aleppo.

The Tawhid Brigade is one of Syria's best-known and powerful rebel groups, with an estimated 10,000 fighters, and is particularly strong in Aleppo province. Under Saleh's command, the group last year spearheaded a rebel push that seized large sections of the provincial capital Aleppo.

On Thursday night a government air strike hit its command post. Mr Saleh, 34, was severely wounded and later died in hospital in Turkey

The Tawhid Brigade was once part of the mainstream Free Syrian Army, considered to be the military wing of Syria's exiled Western-backed opposition. But in September, the brigade broke away and later formed the Islamic Authority, a coalition of Islamic rebel groups.

Mr Saleh's rise reflected that of many ordinary Syrians who joined the uprising against Mr Assad's rule. He was a married merchant who took part in peaceful demonstrations and then turned to guns.