(Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) David Patrikarakos - On Jan. 26, the Syrian Islamist rebel group Ahrar al-Sham incorporated six other rebel groups into its ranks in northwestern Syria in order to battle Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS), a former al-Qaeda franchise once known as the Al-Nusra Front. Days earlier, JFS attacked Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups west of Aleppo. Jihadist groups now stand ascendant among the coalition battling Assad. The FSA and associated groups fought against IS in 2014, when they were much stronger - a campaign that cost them dearly. Those groups simply cannot afford to fight against JFS as well.
2017-02-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive