Local Editor

The Syria branch of the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" [ISIL] has sharply criticized the global terror network's leader, rejecting his call for them to leave the country.

An audio recording, purportedly made by ISIL spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, also urged Ayman al-Zawahri to remove the leader of the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria.

"Sheikh Osama gathered all the ‘mujahedeen' [holy warriors] with one word, but you divided them and tore them apart," Adnani said in the audio statement posted on ‘jihadist' forums Sunday, referring to Zawahri's predecessor Osama bin Laden.
The authenticity of the recording could not be immediately verified.

In the audiotape, Adnani called on Zawahri to replace Nusra leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, warning: "Either you continue with your mistake and remain stubborn, and the division and fighting among the mujahedeen will continue, or you confess to your mistake and correct it."

"You make the mujahedeen sad, and make the enemy of the mujahedeen gloat because you support the traitor [Jolani], and you make the heart bleed - you are the one who instigated the strife, and you have to extinguish it. Review yourself and stand in front of God to correct what you have ruined."
He also rejected the latest of Zawahri's multiple calls that ISIL restrict its activities to Iraq, stating that this was "impossible because it is unreasonable, unrealistic and illegitimate."

Heavy fighting continued Monday between the ISIL and al-Nusra in the eastern province bordering Iraq, forcing many residents to flee.
The Britain-based "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights" said the fighting concentrated in the east of Deir al-Zor province.

According to the information, many tribesmen have joined the battle on the side of the Nusra Front, which is fighting ISIL.

In Deir al-Zor province, no side has made major gains since last week's capture of much of the western parts by ISIL.
ISIL has been clashing with the Nusra Front, their former allies, for nearly two weeks in Deir al-Zor.
On top of recent ISIL gains in Deir al-Zor, al-Nusra lost control of Raqqa - the only opposition-held city in Syria - to ISIL in January. If ISIL can take the entire Deir al-Zor province, it will control territory across Syria and into Iraq.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team