The Syrian Nusra Front amicably severs ties with al-Qaida as it prepares to continue its fight against President Bashar Assad’s regime; Nusra Front leaders have been debating whether to leave the terrorist organization for some time, hoping the step would undermine any attempt made by the US and Russia to explain striking groups supposedly linked to al-Qaida.
The leader of Syria’s Nusra Front says the group is changing its name, and that it will no longer have ties with the terrorist group al-Qaida.
Thursday, Mohammed al-Golani said the group’s separation from the terrorist network aimed to remove “pretexts” by the US and Russia that excused them striking rebel groups while saying they are targeting Nusra.
Nusra has been al-Qaida’s regional branch and one of the most powerful armed groups fighting the Syrian government.
Al-Golani said his group will be renamed the Levant Conquest Front and will “have no relation to outside groups.” The video was the Syrian militant’s first appearance showing his face.
Al-Qaida’s deputy leader Ahmed Hassan Abu el-Kheir gave what appeared to be an endorsement of the split, saying in a newly released message that the Nusra Front should do whatever it takes to preserve the jihadi movement in war-torn Syria. “We will be the first to support it,” Abu el-Kheir said in his six-minute recording.
Abu el-Kheir’s message also included a brief comment from his superior, al-Qaida Chief, who said, “The brotherhood of Islam is stronger than any organizational links that change and go away.” It was not clear when al-Zawahri’s comments were recorded.
Both Nusra and ISIS wish to impose Sharia law over territories under their control. They differ, however, in their approach to other minorities, as ISIS’ modus operandi is to torture and brutally murder those who oppose them, while Nusra has been known to show a certain tolerance toward others.
As reported by Ynetnews