Abu Hamza al-Masri goes back to the Afghan days pre-9/11.

BEIRUT (Reuters) – A veteran Al Qaeda leader identified as Mohamed Abas, nicknamed Abu Hamza al-Masri, died on Thursday during an artillery fire exchange between Syrian government forces and the Liberation Front of the Levant, according to the Syrian Observatory of Rights Humans.

The man, of Egyptian nationality and who fought in the past in the ranks of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, was killed in the Syrian province of Idlib during the battle for control of the Abu Duhur military airport at the hands of the Levant Freedom Agency, according to the NGO.

This jihadist group is formed around the former al Qaeda arm in Syria, which in July 2016 changed its name and disengaged itself from the organization led by Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Masri had paralysis in his legs after being injured in clashes against the Syrian Air Intelligence corps in the western Aleppo province.

His job within the organization was to train the fighters and new recruits of the Levant Freedom Agency, where he also had religious works.

The Observatory reported that Masri was a prominent figure in Al Qaeda in Afghanistan after studying law school in Egypt.

He also fought in Pakistan and was imprisoned for 16 years in his home country.

Six years ago he joined the Al Nusra Front, the former name of Al Qaeda’s Syrian arm until he disassociated himself from Syria, where he was on several northern fronts, such as Idlib, Hama and Aleppo.