Hawzah News Agency (Moscow, Russia) - Russia's Aerospace Forces have critically wounded HTS leader and former Al Nusra Front 'emir' Abu Mohammad al-Julani in Syria, and killed 12 field commanders of the terrorist group which controls Idlib Governorate.

"As a result of the strike, Jabhat al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani received multiple heavy fragmentation wounds and, having lost his hand, is in critical condition, according to several independent sources," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday, media reported.

"Along with numerous (about 50) security guards, 12 field commanders of Jabhat al-Nusra, including the closest aide of Julani, were also killed," he added.

The al-Nusra Front changed its name and merged with other Syrian terrorist groups to create Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS); however, the Russian Defense Ministry continues to use the group's original name.

Russia, along with Iran and local forces, has been assisting the Syrian government in its fight against the terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the Arab country since 2011.

Moscow has been conducting an anti-terrorist operation in Syria since September 30, 2015, at the behest of Syrian President Bashar Assad.