The Saudi cleric had risen from obscurity over the last few years to sit at the apex of the Syrian insurgency’s jihadi circles. As a wide array of Syrian rebel factions mustered late last week to bust the government’s siege of Aleppo city, Muhaisini rallied their men. Reclining on a drab, olive-colored couch wearing army fatigues and a checkered red-and white kuffiyah, Abdullah Muhaisini announced that “in a few hours, the greatest epic battle of the Syrian jihad” would begin. It brought him to the attention of the Saudi authorities, he claimed, who harassed him to stop collecting money and banned him from travel. Whatever the source of the money, it has made Muhaisini immensely popular -- and a leader whose words are obeyed.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 04, 2016 19:34 UTC