Story By: Lee Bullen,Sub Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Asia Wire Report

A famous rock drummer who left his home to fight for the so-called Islamic State in Syria five years ago has been reported as killed in an air strike along with his wife and two children.

The former drummer of the Malaysian rock band Ukays, Akel Zainal, real name Wan Mohd Aquil Wan Zainal Abidin, was killed by a Russian air strike on his Syrian home in Baghuz in March this year, according to new intelligence

Head of the Special Branch’s Counter-Terrorism Division (E8) in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Ayob Khan, said that Zainal, his family and a Belgian militant were all killed in the air strike.

He said: “We obtained information from our foreign counterparts about Akel along with his wife, his three-year-old son and two-year-old daughter having been killed in the air strikes.

“One of the strikes hit his home, killing them along with a Belgian militant.”

According to reports, Zainal had been fighting in Syria for the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) since January 2014.

The former drummer is said to have risen up the ranks to become Malaysian Militant Leader following the death of Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi in April 2017, according to local media.

Zainal was actively involved in the recruitment of young Malaysian men to join his side in Syria.

According to the E8 report, another senior Malaysian militant, identified as Mohd Rafi Udin, also known as Abu Awn Al-Malizi, was killed by a Russian air strike in January 2019.

The E8 boss said: “He featured in an ISIS video in 2016 calling for attacks against secular governments and its leaders. In the footage, he was seen beheading a Middle Eastern-looking prisoner.”

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