Al-Nusra Front Chief Announces Divorce with al-Qaeda

Local Editor

Syrian al-Qaeda branch, al-Nusra Front, announced Thursday it was breaking ties with the global terror network, in a video showing its leader Abu Mohamad al-Jolani for the first time.

The footage broadcast by al-Jazeera news channel follows several days of online chatter over a split between al-Qaeda and its Syria affiliate, a main rival of Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the terrorist "ISIS" group] from which it wants to distance itself as a target of foreign air strikes.

Appearing in public for the first time, Jolani said al-Nusra would change its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and unify ranks with other mainstream fighters in Syria.

"We decided to stop operating under the banner of al-Nusra and to set up a new front, called Jabhat Fateh al-Sham," he said.

Clad in military fatigues and wearing a turban, the bearded Jolani expressed his gratitude to "the commanders of al-Qaeda for having understood the need to break ties."

He further vowed the new group would "have no links whatsoever with foreign parties."

Analysts said al-Nusra aims to rebrand and defend itself as it comes under increased pressure after Moscow and Washington agreed to step up joint efforts against terrorist groups.

Last week, US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov said they had agreed "concrete steps" to save a failing Syria truce and tackle terrorist groups like al-Nusra and Daesh.

But with the amicable break from al-Qaeda, Jolani "can now call upon a broad spectrum of armed groups in Syria to agree to unite initiatives that will by necessity be heavily influenced by Nusra itself," said analyst Charles Lister.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team