A senior Syrian commander and one of President Bashar al-Assad’s most trusted generals has been killed during an operation against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

Brig Gen Issam Zahreddine, a field commander in the elite Republican Guard, died after a convoy he was travelling in hit a landmine on Wednesday morning as they drove through Hawija Saqr near Deir Ezzor province.

Zahreddine, who was in his late 50s and instantly recognisable by his full grey beard, had been leading 7,000 troops in the battle to retake the eastern city of Deir Ezzor from the jihadists.

He also led government offensives against armed opposition in the central Homs province and near the capital, Damascus, in the earlier days of the conflict.