As a leading military commanders in the revolt against the Syrian regime and Islamic State group, Abu Maria Al-Qahtani, who was killed on Thursday, was a divisive figure within the Islamist wing of the insurgency. Last year, Abu Maria was detained and then released in March by his own organisation, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), on charges of “treason”. Weeks later, he was assassinated following a bitter fallout with the HTS leadership and the group’s more extremist elements. We explain more about this elusive figure and his role in Syria’s Islamist movement. Who was Abu Maria Al-Qahtani? Maysr A…