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Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri The Coordinator 2015 Part 4-1-Syria- Nusra-Front-4

Jaysh al Fateh, the “Battle of Victory” The truth, however, is that al-Nusra is not merely “al-Qaeda-linked” but that it is al-Qaeda itself

Al-Qaida a bigger threat than ISIS, ex-CIA honcho warns, according to the CIA's former deputy director; "Their narrative is that the West, the United States, the modern world is a significant threat to their religion and that they have an answer to that threat to their religion, which is the establishment of this caliphate," But it's al Qaida, which perpetrated the 9/11 attacks and continues to have widespread influence abroad, that remains a greater danger, he added. "The most significant threat to the homeland today," Morell said, "still comes from al Qaida.

A rebel coalition including Al-Qaeda's local affiliate seized the Syrian regime's largest remaining military base in northwest Idlib province on Tuesday

With the growing pressure of the Middle East’s regional forces against the Islamic State (IS), another group seems poised to become the most powerful non-state actor in the Syrian Civil War

The group is also seen as the most effective rebel faction able to take on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Hezbollah. The group has distinguished itself with Sunnis by creating a reputation of pragmatism and not being as brutal as IS.

The disbandment of the CIA-favored Hazm Movement and subsequent defection to al-Nusra Front also signals al-Nusra Front’s power and influence.

Since its founding in late 2011 – in the wake of Syrian uprising, al-Nusra has made clear that its ultimate goal in fighting Assad is to establish an Islamic state in Syria.

What is extremely dangerous now is that many within the western-backed opposition support al-Nusra and its latest gains in Syria? The same groups that receive political and material support from the United States are now tacitly – and even openly lately – expressing their support for the terrorist group in Syria. Now that the US and its allies are preparing to train moderate Syrian rebels, they should bear in mind that such rebels can shift allegiance at any given moment, favoring al-Nusra over other groups.

In this unpredictable chaos, one thing is certain. Al-Nusra will remain relevant in the Syrian crisis, because it is made up of Syrians.

May 19, BEIRUT (AFP) - A rebel coalition including Al-Qaeda's local affiliate seized the Syrian regime's largest remaining military base in northwest Idlib province on Tuesday, after an explosion and heavy clashes, a monitor said. "All regime forces have withdrawn from Al-Mastumah, the largest regime base in Idlib, leaving it completely in the hands of opposition fighters," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. The rebel alliance that seized the camp calls itself the "Army of Conquest" and includes Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front and other Islamist factions. "With the help of God, Al-Mastumah was completely liberated after Al-Nusra Front stormed it from the south," the affiliate wrote on its official Twitter account. – LWJ, The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, and its allies in the Jaysh al Fateh coalition are claiming to have completely overrun the Assad regime’s forces at the Al Mastoumah military camp in Idlib. The camp was one of the last remaining regime strongholds in the northwestern province.

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May 18, LWJ The Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, has posted a series of photos showing what appears to be more than 100 newly-graduated jihadists in Idlib. In late March, Al Nusrah and its jihadist allies overran the provincial capital of Idlib. Their coalition, named Jaysh al Fateh (“Army of Conquest”), has continued to fight against regime forces in the surrounding areas in the weeks that followed. Al Nusrah began a big push in northern Syria late last year, taking the fight to both Western-backed rebel groups and Bashar al Assad’s regime. According to the 9/11 Commission’s final report, between 10,000 and 20,000 recruits were trained in al Qaeda’s camps in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001. The organization selected the best and brightest for full membership in al Qaeda, and some of them for leadership positions. A cadre of recruits was also chosen to take part in al Qaeda’s plotting against the West. Al Qaeda is repeating this selection process today in Syria, as well as in jihadist hotspots elsewhere.

May 19, Al-Qaida a bigger threat than ISIS, ex-CIA honcho warns; The Islamic State group has attracted foreign recruits for its war in Iraq and Syria because the extremist network has what it sees as a compelling story to share with them, according to the CIA's former deputy director. "Their narrative is that the West, the United States, the modern world is a significant threat to their religion [and] that they have an answer to that threat to their religion, which is the establishment of this caliphate," said Michael Morell, who held the post from 2010 to 2013. They say "they are being attacked by the United States … and because they are being attacked as they try to set up this caliphate to protect their religion, they need support." Morell is the author of "The Great War of Our Time: The CIA's Fight Against Terrorism, From al Qa'ida to ISIS," published this month. Indeed, ISIS presents a clear threat, he said Monday at the National Press Club in Washington. But it's al Qaida, which perpetrated the 9/11 attacks and continues to have widespread influence abroad, that remains a greater danger, he added. "The most significant threat to the homeland today," Morell said, "still comes from al Qaida."

ISIS seeks support in two ways, he said. It wants fighters to carry out its war in the Middle East, and it urges people to attack Americans and other coalition nations in their homelands. The U.S., on the other hand, doesn't really have a strong counter narrative, he said. "Not because we're not doing our job, but because it's really hard to have a counter narrative in a conversation about a religion where we have absolutely no credibility," he said. Morell was an intelligence analyst who delivered daily briefings to then-President George W. Bush in 2001. He also assisted with planning the 2011 raid in Pakistan that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. His new book includes his assessment of the CIA's counterterrorism successes and failures of the past two decades, and highlights growing threats from terrorist groups that could impact the U.S.

Three al Qaida groups in particular pose the greatest threat to the U.S. , he said. Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, based in Yemen, remains the most dangerous, Morell said. The international terrorist organization was responsible for the last three attempted attacks against the U.S.: the would-be Christmas Day underwear bomber in 2009, the printer cartridge plot in 2010 and the nonmetallic bomb plot on an airliner in 2012. "They have the capability to bring down an airline in the United States of America tomorrow," Morell said. The second most dangerous, he said, is the Khorasan Group, which has operatives from Pakistan. It was formed to assist the jihadist organization Jabhat al-Nusra in its fight against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with the goal of using Syria as a base of operations to attack the West. Finally, the third group is al Qaida's senior leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said.

But Morell did not downplay the ISIS threat — either on the battlefield or in its attempts to radicalize young men and young women around the world. "The first and

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probably the most important right now is the stability of the entire Middle East. ISIS threatens the territorial integrity of Syria, the territorial integrity of Iraq and the potential for spillover to the rest of the region," Morell said. ISIS killed hundreds of Iraqi civilians and security forces and caused thousands to flee their homes as it captured the city of Ramadi in central Iraq on Sunday, according to multiple news reports. Morell said that Islamic educators are needed to inform people who may consider joining terrorist groups. "We really need the leaders of Muslim countries, we need leading Muslim clerics [and] we need Muslim teachers to have this dialogue in those countries themselves."

13.05.2015)Jaish al-Fath called on al-Nusra militants to do their best to fight the Islamic State terrorists .The Jaish al-Fath, an alliance of Islamist groups led by al-Nusra Front in the al-Qalamoun region, located Northeast of Damascus, has accused Islamic State of treason by providing a list of ISIL's aggressions against al-Nusra Front. In a recent statement Jaish al-Fath called on all al-Nusra militants to do their best to fight the Islamic State terrorists. The infighting seems to have flared up after ISIL turned down an al-Nusra demand for support in the war on the Syrian troops, and tried to establish an independent front in the region of Qalamoun.

Islamist militant group Al Nusra re-emerging as key rebel faction fighting to overthrow Bashar al-AssadBy Mark Corcoran Fri 15 May 2015 Photo: Senior Al Nusra Front commander Abu Humam al-Shami is believed to have died earlier this year (Al Nusra Front) Jabhat al-Nusra, or the Al Nusra Front, is an Al Qaeda affiliated Sunni Islamist group, now re-emerging as one of the dominant rebel factions fighting to overthrow the regime of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad. Al Nusra's stated aim is the establishment of a Sunni Islamist Emirate across the Levant region, to be ruled under an extreme interpretation of sharia law. The Al Nusra Front is formally listed as a terrorist organisation by several countries including Australia and the United States. The United Nations has also proscribed the movement. Al Nusra has cut a bloody swathe through Syria, launching suicide attacks, kidnappings and executions, although the Australian Government said at various times the group has "attempted to play down its extremist ideology and conceal its links to AQI (Al Qaeda in Iraq) to avoid alienating the Syrian population". According to a publicly released Australian intelligence assessment 1"current membership is difficult to ascertain, with one estimate placing it between 6,000 and 10,000 members". In March 2015, one of the group's leaders, 'Abu Sulayamn Muhajir', identified by the Australian newspaper as Mostafa Mohamed Farag, a 31-year-old Egyptian-Australian preacher from Sydney, told the Al Jazeera TV network that his movement would wage an endless conflict against the West. "The choice is simple: leave our lands, stop interfering in our affairs - or face a perpetual war." He also branded the Islamic State (IS) as a "criminal group that has gone astray from Islamic law".Al Nusra and IS are deadly rivals.The leaders of both groups emerged from the decade-long insurgency in Iraq, where they initially fought under the Al Qaeda banner. As the uprising against Syria's president escalated into civil war in 2011, the Iraqi insurgent leadership sent fighters under the command of Abu Mohamad al-Golani, across the border to establish another Al Qaeda affiliate - Jabhat al-Nusra. As the popularity and influence of the Syria-based Al Nusra swiftly grew under al-Golani, he ignored orders to merge back under the control of the main Iraqi group led by Abu

1 http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Jabhatal-Nusra.aspx

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Bakr al-Baghdadi, whose faction had morphed into the Islamic State in Iraq. In early 2013 the two sides clashed violently over money, territory and political control. Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri sided with the Syrian faction, casting the Islamic State and al-Bagdhadi out of the Al Qaeda fold. Following the schism, the two sides displayed a brutal competiveness in their bloody struggle for control of Syria, not only fighting Mr Assad's government forces, but crushing other, smaller, Western-backed insurgent groups.

AL NUSRA TIGHTENS GRIP ON PARTS OF SYRIA WHILE WORLD WATCHES IS. While international attention has focussed on the spectacular gains of IS in eastern Syria and Iraq –Al Nusra has quietly consolidated its hold on parts of northwest Syria. In contrast to IS, most of Al Nusra's members are Syrian, although the movement has attracted smaller numbers of Australians and other foreigners to its ranks. Spokesman Mostafa Mohamed Farag is the most highly ranked Australian, but another prominent recruit was Mohammed Ali Baryalei, a charismatic Afghan-Australian from Sydney who travelled to Syria where he joined Al Nusra in about April 2013. The ABC's 7.30 program reported that within two months he switched allegiance to Islamic State, as IS grew in stature to become the dominant extremist group. Australian counter-terrorism authorities told 7.30 that Baryalei gained a trusted position in IS operational command and became the key intermediary for scores of Australians travelling to the battlefields of Syria and Iraq. Senior police claimed he was also forming a cell of young Sydney-based Afghan-Australians to carry out local terrorist attacks. In October 2014, the 33-year-old was reportedly killed in fighting. In March 2015, Al Nusra suffered a major setback when the group's veteran military commander Abu Human al-Shami was reportedly killed in a US air strike. Rami Abdulrahman, who runs the anti-Assad Syrian Observatory for Human Rights which tracks the war in Syria using sources on the ground, told Reuters that Abu Humam was more important than Al Nusra Front's supreme leader, al-Golani. Despite al-Shami's death and the targeted killing of many other key commanders, Al Nusra has since achieved a remarkable string of military victories in Syria's northwest, capturing the city of Idlib, overrunning a strategically significant military base, and seizing large quantities of weapons from rival militant groups. After two years of being overshadowed by IS, the group enjoys a resurgence in popularity, with fighters once more returning to join its ranks. Politically, Al Nusra has attempted rebrand itself as a less extremist alternative to Islamic State. The gulf state of Qatar has reportedly tempted the leadership to formally break ranks with Al Qaeda, in return for more weapons and cash and leadership of a more 'moderate' Gulf-led anti-Assad coalition. Publicly at least, the Al Nusra Front has re-affirmed its Al Qaeda affiliation.

Will al-Nusra Front Eclipse the Islamic State?Global Risk Insights 05.16.15 Reuters By Chris Solomon for Global Risk InsightsWith the growing pressure of the Middle East’s regional forces against the Islamic State (IS), another group seems poised to become the most powerful non-state actor in the Syrian Civil War. The last few months have seen rebel forces in Syria make significant military gains. At the end of February, Hezbollah and regime troops sustained a high number of casualties and failed to completely encircle and cut off rebel-held Aleppo. Near the border with Jordan, Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Islamist fighters captured the town of Busra al-Sham, along with its Roman UNESCO World Heritage site. The biggest victory for the Islamist rebel factions was the seizure of Jisr al-Shughour and Idlib city this April.

At the forefront of these victories is the Al-Qaeda (AQ) linked group, the al-Nusra Front. While the group has the dubious honor of being AQ’s official branch in Syria, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced. The group’s fluctuating partnership with the FSA and local moderate support makes it politically difficult for the West to give them the full

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Islamic State treatment. Al-Nusra Front is made up primarily of Syrians. Support from Qatar early in the war did not discriminate against the variety of Islamist rebel factions. The group is also seen as the most effective rebel faction able to take on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Hezbollah. The group has distinguished itself with Sunnis by creating a reputation of pragmatism and not being as brutal as IS. However, it was the emergence of al-Nusra Front as one of the first Islamist rebel movements in the early days of the revolt that turned many of the pro-democracy activists against the revolution. Though al-Nusra Front is not on the same level as IS, it has its own history of human rights abuses. The slow and sporadic flow of weapons to Western favored militias allowed al-Nusra Front to thrive early in the war. The US often withheld arms as a punitive measure for rebel groups that fought alongside al-Nusra Front and the tactic has only driven other Islamist leaning groups towards al-Nusra Front as a result. It is al-Nusra Front’s strategic alliances with the Islamist Ahrar al-Sham and other temporary coalitions such as with the Islamic Front that have led them to become a dominant rebel force in Northwestern Syria.

Assad regime’s political and economic troubles The regime’s strength comes from the fact that, despite the shrinking territory, at least 72% of the Syrian population still resides inside its zone of control. Many people still prefer the regime over the many opposition groups and long for the days of stability. Syria’s Central Bank reported that Iran has granted an additional $1 billion to Assad’s regime. Staffan de Mistura, the UN diplomat to Syria, has suggested the amount coming from Iran is as high as $35 billion a year. The government is continuing to raise taxes on basic goods and commodities for more money. Military recruitment is also becoming more difficult. There appears to be an escalating attempt by rebel factions around Damascus to put more pressure on the capital. Assad’s strategy of “an army in all corners” appears to be faltering. The coming months could see the SAA and Hezbollah pull back from their isolated outposts to the regime friendly areas. SAA field commanders are increasingly short on ammunition and supplies.A wider regional geopolitical rapprochement with the US and Iran could see a shift in Iran’s Syria policy. In addition, internal tension at the highest levels of the regime is building.

Islamic State is weakened Since the Battle of Kobani, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) are leading the offensive against IS in eastern Syria. The Syrian Kurdish force has even taken villages within close distance of IS’s capital city of Raqqa. In April, Kurdish forces cleared the town of Sinjar from IS, a crucial move for the planned recapture of Mosul later this year. However, Islamic State still has business fronts and banking connections in Turkey, allowing the group access to financing. Most of the oil refineries in Syria have been destroyed, but IS still has hidden facilities for manufacturing and selling oil to the regime through intermediaries. It is estimated that the group still has about $2 billion. Despite the recapture of the Beiji refinery in Iraq, a year of repairs is needed to make the facility fully operational.

Al-Nusra Front could emerge as the strongest force Today, greater coordination and support is emerging between Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia under King Salman’s new efforts to stem Iran’s regional influence. The disbandment of the CIA-favored Hazm Movement and subsequent defection to al-Nusra Front also signals al-Nusra Front’s power and influence. The same anti-tank TOW missiles supplied to Hazm are now seen in al-Nusra Front’s propaganda.Across the region, IS has risen while AQ’s local branches have waned in influence. This could be why some rumors hint that al-Nusra Front may break from AQ. The group may have more to achieve by championing itself as the protector of Syria’s Sunnis than an affiliation with an aging and declining international terrorist organization. However, al-Nusra Front has denied the rumors.

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The true test will be if al-Nusra Front can take the crucial Qalamoun mountain region that borders Hezbollah’s stronghold in Baalbek, Lebanon. Fighting in the area has recently intensified and reports are emerging that senior Hezbollah leaders have been killed. As al-Nusra Front takes on the Islamic State and Hezbollah, it could risk overstretching itself. But as the other Sunni factions continue to align themselves with al-Nusra Front, the group looks increasingly set to become the dominant force in Syria. The group’s territorial ambitions and plans to expand into Lebanon are well documented. This will be very troubling as the Assad regime continues to weaken and contract.

Mid May, Jabhat al-Nusra launches war against IS in QalamounAuthor: As-Safir (Lebanon)Posted May 12, 2015 Jabhat al-Nusra’s emir in Qalamoun, Abu Malek al-Talli, turned against his previous convictions regarding his relationship with “the advocates of the same ideology” in the Islamic State (IS) whom he had refused, until recently, to describe as Kharijites. He had always sought to protect them and forbid other factions from attacking them. However, he declared war against them and started fighting them without any preludes. What are the circumstances of Talli’s change of heart, and why has he decided to fight IS? Several areas of West Qalamoun have been witnessing since two days, a fierce wave of raids conducted by Jabhat al-Nusra against IS strongholds and checkpoints, and clashes erupted between both groups. As a result of the campaign, dozens of IS members, including leaders and emirs, were arrested. On the first day, about 47 members were detained, according to sources. Those included IS prominent leader Abdullah al-Iraqi, who is considered, along with Abu Balqis al-Iraqi who was not arrested, the actual leaders of IS in West Qalamoun. It was also reported that emir Abu al-Baraa, who was mentioned in the two previous statements issued by the group, was arrested. Oddly enough, Talli had addressed him in one of the previous statements with respect.The strange aspect of the sudden decision for battle that was implemented before it was officially declared is that it came only a few hours after two statements issued by Talli were leaked. Several al-Nusra leaders, like Abu Maria al-Qahtani, confirmed the authenticity of the statements, the first of which included a request for IS to help al-Nusra and support it in Assal al-Ward and al-Jibbah against the Syrian army and Hezbollah. The second statement included a nominal permit for an IS leader allowing him to cross al-Nusra’s checkpoints with any person whose religion he trusts. How, then, could Talli request IS’ help and allow its leaders and members to cross al-Nusra’s checkpoints, and a few days later, wage an inclusive war against the group?To clarify matters, a source close to al-Nusra told As-Safir, “The war decision against Kharijites is final and does not involve West Qalamoun only, but also other regions such as East Qalamoun, Wadi Barada and al-Zabadani.” The source noted that “the fights will persist until Kharijites are eliminated, and until they repent and hand themselves over for punishment for the bloodshed they committed.” “The campaign has resulted in expelling Kharijites from al-Jibbeh and al-Maara,” the source added. Regarding the two statements and their contradiction with the fighting decision, the source stated, “Talli recently issued a decision to forbid Kharijites from participating in any fight alongside al-Nusra. But, when talk about the Qalamoun battle started, some IS leaders asked him to allow them to participate. He realized that unity was needed to respond to Hezbollah’s attack to achieve the higher interest. So, he allowed IS members to fight and issued permits for some leaders to cross al-Nusra’s checkpoints.”The source added that “the Kharijites, as usual, tried to take advantage of the situation to strengthen their position, and they attacked an al-Nusra checkpoint and arrested some members.” This prompted Talli to decide that the time has come to eliminate them. The

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timing of their attack — which coincided with the attack of their common enemy, Hezbollah — angered him. Talli took his decision a week after al-Nusra in East Qalamoun issued a similar statement asserting “its persistence in fighting Kharijites until its last breath to push them to take back their takfiri trend and bloodshed against Muslims.” Practically, this means that Qalamoun has entered a new stage of conflict, as it was considered, until recently, one of the few remaining Syrian regions which were safe from the jihadi strife since its outbreak in April 2013.Talli played a big role in preventing the spillover of the strife to Qalamoun. In early 2014, he issued a famous statement in which he rejected fighting IS and threatened “any faction that attacks IS locations of becoming a permissible target for Jabhat al-Nusra.” Talli was convinced that “Jabhat al-Nusra and IS had the same approach”— an opinion that is not shared by al-Qaeda’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, who talked more than once about “an ideological dispute” between both parties. Less than a year later, in January, although IS emir in Qalamoun, Abu al-Walid al-Maqdisi, issued a fatwa to consider Jabhat al-Nusra takfiri, Talli held on to his convictions. He refused in a statement to describe IS members as Kharijites, asserting, “We owe them since they are our brothers in religion. We cannot call any IS members Kharijites.”

However, Talli indicated in that statement a significant point showing that he did not rule out all possibilities of fighting IS. He might have even expected it. He noted, “We would not fight any Muslim without a reason. It is not in our ideology.” This means that in case of reasons, fighting would be a possibility. And this is what seems to have happened in the past two days. Although a previous source had asserted to As-Safir that confrontations with IS are limited to certain regions and won’t affect the battle front with Hezbollah and the Syrian army, the situation depends on the nature and course of developments. The repercussions cannot be speculated. Battles against IS are raging on several fronts — Aleppo, Homs, Ghouta and East Qalamoun. Will Jabhat al-Nusra be able to eliminate IS from Qalamoun within a few hours, as its [Jabhat al-Nusra] advocates claim, or will things take a different turn?The Syrian army and Hezbollah militants tightened the noose on al-Khirba crossing in Qalamoun’s barren lands. The battle has started to take over Ras Maara’s barren lands, and violent clashes have broken out in al-Barouh highland in that area. This highland Is considered a strategic position as it overlooks Ras Maara and the Lebanese borders. The Syrian forces and Hezbollah’s militants have controlled al-Jibbeh barren lands completely, as well as Moaysra and its valley, which was a training camp for militants, and Sahel al-Watiya. They also tightened their grip on Qornat Abdel-Haq that overlooks the Lebanese Nahle barren lands. This hill is 2,428 meters [7,966 feet] above sea level. The operations claimed the lives of many militants and wounded others.

May 19, Clashes Break out between ISIL and al-Nusra Front East of Lebanon’s Arsal Fierce clashes broke out between al-Nusra Front and the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) takfiri groups east of Lebanese border with Syria, over exchanging accusations of betrayal during the recent battle of Qalamoun. The local Lebanese daily Assafir reported that the two terrorist groups have used different kinds of weapons during the clashes that erupted in Kassarat (quarries) area and al-Jarajir barren east of Arsal town. Elnashra news website said that scores of gunmen from both sides were killed, and many others were left wounded. "Al-Nusra Front military official in Fleita, Abu Omar Attaftanazi, and commander of engineering department, Abu Ahmad Ahrar, were among the killed terrorists," the website stated, adding that Abulleil, a group commander, and Abu Ya'coub, Al-Nusra Front official in Arsal barrens, were also killed. Elnashra noted that an emir of ISIL, dubbed Abu Osama, and two other ISIL commanders in Qalamoun, Abu Mohamad Islam and Abu Abed al-Baghdadi

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were also killed during the clashes. Moreover, the Lebanese army fired artillery rockets against the gunmen deployed in Massida neighborhood in Arsal barrens, using medium weapons and flares. The army move came after the control chamber monitored suspicious movements and an attempt to approach the military positions. Syria was hit by a violent unrest since mid-March 2011, where the western media reports accuse countries, mainly the USA, Turkey and Saudi Arabia of orchestrating the civil conflict in the country and providing terrorist groups with money, weapons and trained mercenaries. On May 2011, Syrian army launched a wide-scale operation against terrorist groups and gunmen operating in the country, who started to escape the army blows and infiltrate illegally to Lebanon.

May 08, 2015, Al-Nusra Front: The real threat for SyriansBy Sirwan Kajjo When al-Qaeda-affiliate, Al-Nusra Front took over the provincial city of Idlib and other strategic towns in northwestern Syria, many political opposition groups and figures deemed the move as yet another blow to Bashar Assad’s embattled regime. However, the so-called liberation of Idlib City at the end of March was not only a defeat for the Assad army, but for the local population in the city itself.At the beginning of their takeover, al-Nusra attempted to soothe the population by issuing several declarations, reassuring the residents that now that Assad was gone they would enjoy total freedom. However, several weeks into its rule in Idlib, some local leaders of the group were tried by its sharia court after they frequented the Christian neighborhood in the city and told its residents that they were “brothers” of Muslims. Moreover, the group suspended the broadcast of Alwan Radio, a community radio station based in Saraqeb, Idlib, confiscated its equipment and didn’t allow a popular weekly publication to be distributed in Idlib and other areas under its control.Such acts are not new to the people of Idlib province. The group has previously conducted public executions, whippings, and persecuted civilians in areas it has ruled in northern Idlib. It has also imposed strict social codes on residents, especially on religious minorities and women.Since its founding in late 2011 – in the wake of Syrian uprising, al-Nusra has made clear that its ultimate goal in fighting Assad is to establish an Islamic state in Syria. The group’s early intentions were crowned with an endorsement by al-Qaeda leadership. The longer the Syrian civil war dragged on, the better environment it became for groups such as al-Nusra for gaining a foothold and expanding its influence in conflict-ridden sections of the country.

The vast majority of al-Nusra’s fighters are Syrians. This is where the real danger stems from. Al-Nusra has been seeking to invest in Syrian youth through a set of slogans that seem closer to the Syrian mainstream mindset. The group capitalizes on fighting Assad to build its base in every corner of the country. It is arguably the most disciplined Sunni group that is fighting the Syrian regime. This alone has helped al-Nusra make a name for itself among Sunnis who have been oppressed by Assad’s Alawite-dominated regime.

On the other hand, ISIS, for example, will always be alien to the Syrian population. This is true for one simple reason: the majority of its fighting force is non-Syrian. In fact, ISIS is not necessarily interested in garnering popular support. The group is more interested in attracting foreign fighters to join them. Syria is merely a provisional hub for ISIS where it can build the basis for its caliphate. Unlike ISIS, al-Nusra intends to perpetuate its establishment in Syria. That’s why popular support is essential for its survival. Also, the group tries hard to show that its agendas are purely of nationalistic intent.

It is true that the majority of Syrians are moderate, but so are the Afghans. In countries where violence is raging, it is more likely for people to become radicalized – regardless of who is fighting whom. Historically, extremist ideology has attracted supporters in war-torn

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countries more than any other competing ideology. And therefore, it is safe to say Syrians who are currently sympathizing with al-Nusra were likely moderate before the uprising began in their country.

What is extremely dangerous now is that many within the western-backed opposition support al-Nusra and its latest gains in Syria? The same groups that receive political and material support from the United States are now tacitly – and even openly lately – expressing their support for the terrorist group in Syria. Now that the US and its allies are preparing to train moderate Syrian rebels, they should bear in mind that such rebels can shift allegiance at any given moment, favoring al-Nusra over other groups.Al-Nusra has been able to form an army of political organizations, aid groups and local councils that present the group in multiple fronts. This has become something of a façade for a group that is designated as a terrorist organization by the US. For example, a lot of the international aid that goes into Syria eventually falls to the hands of groups that are run by al-Nusra. This way al-Nusra takes the aid, distributes to its own population and takes credit for it. This only increases its popularity among needy Syrians.

In this unpredictable chaos, one thing is certain. Al-Nusra will remain relevant in the Syrian crisis, because it is made up of Syrians. As long as there is a political and security vacuum in the country, groups such as al-Nursa will continue to exploit the local population in order to pursue their different objectives. The lack of a real moderate representation for Sunni communities in Syria has allowed al-Nusra to position itself as the sole protector of Sunnis in the face of Assad’s cruelties.For the US to see favorable results from training Syrian rebels, it should carefully vet these elements within the opposition. Just because one group is perceived as moderate, it doesn’t mean that its loyalty on the ground is unquestionable. Therefore, the US and its allies must work closely with groups that have already shown their determination to fight ISIS and Assad. Time is running out and the longer this takes the more complicated for Syria and for the region.  Kajjo is Syrian Kurdish journalist based in D.C.

05.19.155:15 AM ET U.S. Secret Weapon Vs. ISIS: GarbagemenWashington is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to teach Syrian rebels how to govern themselves, hoping what they learn will help them resist both ISIS and Assad.GAZIANTEP, Turkey — “There is something heroic about garbage collectors working in a war zone,” says a senior U.S. State Department official, who’s been helping to organize just such civic breakthroughs in those corners of Syria not yet under the sway of ISIS, al Qaeda, or the Assad dictatorship.

So low-key is the U.S. and European endeavor to nurture a civil society in the midst of chaos that it almost seems secret. The civilian assistance program, Support for Local Governance, mounted by the U.S. in rebel controlled areas in Syria, has gotten precious little press, but it is key to the Obama administration’s effort to nudge the ideological direction of the rebellion, tempering its sectarianism and curtailing the power of radical Islamists by trying to build up a groundswell of popular support for secular, accountable local governance.“We are trying to avoid mini-Libyas springing up across Syria and militia power raising a threat in any post-Assad Syria that emerges,” says the State Department official.Officials avoid mentioning “democracy promotion,” with its forlorn Bush-era and Arab Spring associations, but they do say the $300 million program is designed to help civilians in insurgent areas with their daily lives. Pilot programs are underway in parts of rural Aleppo, rural Idlib and some areas in the countryside of Latakia, as well as rebel-controlled towns ringing Damascus. Five hundred children are being schooled, for instance, as a result of the program in one town near Damascus. Officials have asked that the town not to be identified, fearing it may prompt an Assad airstrike.

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“We help them keep basic services going—from policing, garbage collection, water and energy provision, the running of clinics and schools—the basics expected from local councils, from local government,” says a senior State Department official. Those working in local councils can attend “Governance 101” classes in Turkey. The attendees can be activists and even technocrats from the Assad era still in place and accepted by local communities.“We are trying to avoid mini-Libyas springing up across Syria.”The approach is supposed to have a cascading effect, with small baby-step cash grants at first for office equipment and eventually the funding of larger repair projects and then, when officials are convinced money is being spent properly, major equipment for civil defense and reconstruction. Ambulances, bulldozers and other equipment have also been sent over. This may not be headline-catching stuff but, aside from actually assisting civilians and local governments to cope as best they can in appalling circumstances, the program—partly developed from lessons learned in Iraq—is to showcase how governance should work.Officials also hope it will strengthen the hand of civilians in their dealings with the militias, and it contrasts with the dictatorial jihadist governance and state-building in the Islamic State’s so-called caliphate and in areas exclusively controlled by al Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra.

One pressing issue for the Obama administration at the moment is whether to extend Support for Local Governance to Idlib, which was captured from the Assad regime by a new rebel alliance called the Army of Victory, or Jaish al-Fata. That alliance is dominated by Jabhat al-Nusra and hardcore Islamist militias. Indirectly via the Western-backed political opposition alliance, the Syrian National Coalition, U.S. officials are urging Jaish al-Fata to keep its hands off local governance.U.S. and other Western officials say they are eager to assist when it comes to local governance in Idlib city. But until they see the new Islamist alliance distancing itself from local governance, there will be no assistance from Washington.“We could test the waters using an NGO to see what happens,” says the State Department official.  But Jaish al-Fata leaders are saying they want the adoption of Sharia law rather than local judges using the Assad-era law. That is setting off U.S. alarm bells.The fact that al-Nusra has not sought to claim the new territory captured by Jaish al-Fata as part an of “emirate” is seen by some as a positive sign, but U.S, officials remain skeptical. Rival jihadists in the self-styled Islamic State, widely known as ISIS or ISIL, started inconspicuously in Raqqa, now the de facto capital of their caliphate. Officials say that when ISIS arrived in Raqqa with other militias they behaved themselves at first and they kept their hands off governance, allowing locals to govern themselves. The same sort of thing could happen in Idlib, which would leave this stealthy program for good governance as yet another bright concept for peace in Syria that ultimately went nowhere.

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Australian National Security  Jabhat al-Nusra (Also known as: Al-Nusra Front; Al-Nusrah Front; Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant; Jabhat al-Nusra li-Ahl al-Sham Min Mujahideen al-Sham fi Sahat al-Jihad; Jabhat al-Nusrah; Jabhet al-Nusra; Support Front for the People of Syria from the Mujahideen of Syria in the Places of Jihad; The Victory Front)Listed 28 June 2013.This statement is based on publicly available information about Jabhat al-Nusra. To the Australian Government's knowledge, this information is accurate and reliable and has been corroborated by classified information.Basis for listing a terrorist organisationDivision 102 of the Criminal Code provides that for an organisation to be listed as a terrorist organisation, the Attorney-General must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that the organisation:is directly or indirectly engaged in, preparing, planning, or assisting in or fostering the doing of a terrorist act (whether or not a terrorist act has occurred or will occur); oradvocates the doing of a terrorist act (whether or not a terrorist act has occurred or will occur).Details of the organisationJabhat al-Nusra is a Syria-based Sunni extremist group that adheres to the global jihadist ideology of al-Qa'ida. In late 2011, al-Qa'ida in Iraq (AQI) sent operatives to Syria for the purpose of establishing Jabhat al-Nusra to fight the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The group publicly announced its presence in Syria in a January 2012 video statement. In early April 2013, Jabhat al-Nusra pledged allegiance to al-Qa'ida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and confirmed the group has received funding and operatives from AQI. The group has received direct endorsement from online extremist forums aligned with al-Qa'ida and leading salafist/jihadist figures. Previously, Jabhat al-Nusra had attempted to play down its extremist ideology and conceal its links to AQI to avoid alienating the Syrian population. Jabhat al-Nusra releases videos of its attacks and operations through its media network al-Manara al-Bayda (the White Minaret). These videos are uploaded to a pro-al-Qa'ida jihadist forum, Shumukh al-Islam. ObjectivesJabhat al-Nusra's stated objectives are to remove the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and once this is achieved, create a salafist-oriented Sunni Islamist state in Syria. Jabhat al-Nusra also intends to establish an Islamist caliphate across the Levant. Jabhat al-Nusra believes the fight against the Syrian regime is supported by religious texts, and its fighters hope to fulfill 'God's wish' for an 'Islamic caliphate'. Through the experiences of its members who have fought in Iraq and the group's close links to AQI's leadership, Jabhat al-Nusra has learned lessons from AQI's experiences in Iraq and has been careful to avoid the latter's mistakes—beheadings, sectarian violence and indiscriminate civilian casualties—that resulted in the loss of support from the Iraqi population. Jabhat al-Nusra also intends to expel the minority Alawite and Christian communities from Syria. This is substantiated by statements made by the group, including 'The blessed operations will continue until the land of Syria is purified from the filth of the nusayris (Alawites) and the Sunnis are relieved of their oppression'. To achieve these objectives, Jabhat al-Nusra undertakes improvised explosive device (including suicide), sniper and small-arms attacks, as well as kidnapping and executions, against regime security and military targets. Jabhat al-Nusra also attacks individuals and groups it perceives are supporting the regime and has targeted urban areas, resulting in indiscriminate civilian deaths. Anticipating a new phase of fighting after the fall of the regime, Jabhat al-Nusra plans to unite all jihadists, including fighters from Iraq, under one umbrella to fight the secular opposition.

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LeadershipJabhat al-Nusra is led by Abu-Muhammad al-Jawlani (an alias), who has links to AQI. In early April 2013, AQI leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Husseini al-Qurashi announced Jabhat al-Nusra would merge with AQI under the banner of the 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria'. In early April 2013, Abu-Muhammad al-Jawlani pledged allegiance to al-Qa'ida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and denied any knowledge of the merger with AQI. As Jabhat al-Nusra has a presence throughout Syria, regional leaders are responsible for controlling their respective cells. MembershipJabhat al-Nusra's current membership is difficult to ascertain, with one estimate placing it between 6000 and 10 000 members. The group consists primarily of Syrian nationals, but includes foreign fighters from the Levant, North Africa and Europe. A small number of foreign fighters are from Western countries. Several of Jabhat al-Nusra's leaders and operatives have previous experience as AQI operatives in Iraq. Recruitment and fundingJabhat al-Nusra has very strict recruitment procedures and requires new recruits to pledge allegiance to the group. Potential recruits are required to fight on the front-line and must be vouched for by Jabhat al-Nusra commanders before they are accepted. Due to Jabhat al-Nusra's high level of operational security, it only recruits individuals who have undergone a vetting process. Jabhat al-Nusra is well-funded; benefactors include AQI and Gulf-based salafist supporters. Terrorist activity of the organisation Directly or indirectly engaged in the doing of terrorist actsJabhat al-Nusra has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks. Whilst in most cases specific targets and types of casualties are not known, attacks are conducted primarily in urban areas with no regard for indiscriminate harm. Significant attacks either claimed by, or reliably attributed to, Jabhat al-Nusra include the following: 21 February 2013: multiple vehicle suicide bombings in Damascus, Syria, killed between 50 and 100 people. On the same day, a triple vehicle bombing in northern Damascus killed 22 people. 24 January 2013: suicide vehicle bombing targeting the Syrian Military Intelligence headquarters in Damascus, Syria, killed 53 people.5 November 2012: suicide vehicle bombing in Hama, Syria, killed at least 50 people. 12 October 2012: an assault on an air defence base near the village of Al-Taana in Ar-raqqah, Syria, killed at least three people.8 October 2012: suicide vehicle bomb and small arms attack on an air force intelligence office in Harasta, Rif Dimashq, Syria, killed an unknown number of people. 3 October 2012: four vehicle bombs that detonated outside security and government buildings in Aleppo, Syria, killed 40 people. 26 September 2012: two suicide vehicle bombs that detonated close to General Staff Headquarters in Damascus, Syria, killed four people.3 August 2012: Jabhat al-Nusra claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and execution of a Syrian Government TV presenter27 June 2012: an attack on a pro-Syrian Government news station with small arms and bombs in Drousha, south of Damascus, Syria, killed seven people.29 May 2012: 13 men were found shot dead in a field near Deir ez Zour, Syria. Jabhat al-Nusra claimed responsibility for executing the men, stating they were regime soldiers.19 May 2012: a suicide vehicle bombing targeting an air force intelligence hospital in Deir ez Zour, Syria, killed nine people.10 May 2012: a double suicide vehicle bombing killed 55 people in Damascus, Syria.

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27 April 2012: a suicide bomb targeting security force personnel in the Maidan district of Damascus, Syria, killed 10 people.24 April 2012: an IED attached to a military vehicle was detonated as it passed the Iranian Cultural Centre in Damascus, Syria, wounding three people. 17 March 2012: a double vehicle bombing targeting a local police headquarters and an air force intelligence office in Damascus, Syria, killed at least 27 people.10 February 2012: a double vehicle bombing targeting a military intelligence and security force facility in Aleppo, Syria, killed at least 25 people.6 January 2012: a suicide bombing targeting a busload of security force personnel in Damascus, Syria, killed 26 people.Directly or indirectly fostering and/or advocating the doing of terrorist acts Jabhat al-Nusra has its own media outlet, al-Manara al-Bayda (the White Minaret), which it uses to make documentary-style propaganda videos, often featuring car bombs and interviews with suicide bombers. Through the White Minaret, Jabhat al-Nusra's message is disseminated via the jihadist forum Shumukh al-Islam.Jabhat al-Nusra has issued more than 200 media statements, primarily through the White Minaret. While most of these statements have been in the form of claims of responsibility for attacks, some early media statements address the rationale for the group's actions. These include:24 January 2012: Jabhat al-Nusra leader Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani announced in a video that Jabhat al-Nusra would 'avenge the honour and the spilled blood of those who have been wronged [by the government]' and that jihad was 'the only way that we can end the cloud of oppression and injustice'.27 February 2012: Jawlani stated, 'know what has befallen your comrades in the past will befall you ... For every town or district that is attacked we will conduct an explosive attack against the state security apparatus'.ConclusionOn the basis of the above information, ASIO assesses Jabhat al-Nusra is directly and/or indirectly engaged in, preparing, planning, assisting in, or fostering the doing of terrorist acts involving threats to human life and serious damage to property. In the course of pursuing its objectives, Jabhat al-Nusra is known to have committed or threatened action that:causes, or could cause, serious damage to property or the death of persons or endangers a person's life or creates serious risk to a person's safety are done with the intention of advancing Jabhat al-Nusra's political, religious or ideological causes, andare done with the intention of intimidating sections of the public globally. This assessment is corroborated by information from reliable and credible intelligence sources.Other relevant information Links to other terrorist groups or networksIn early April 2013, Jabhat al-Nusra released a video statement in which leader Abu-Muhammad al-Jawlani, on behalf of Jabhat al-Nusra, pledged allegiance to al-Qa'ida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. In this same statement, al-Jawlani confirmed that AQI leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi al-Husseini al-Qurashi provided Jabhat al-Nusra with funding and operatives to conduct operations in Syria.Proscription by the UN and other countriesOn 11 December 2012, the United States amended the Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Executive Order 13224 designations of AQI to include Jabhat al-Nusra as an alias.

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On 15 March 2013, Australia listed Al-Nusrah Front (Jabhat al-Nusrah) as a terrorist entity under the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945.Peace and mediation processesJabhat al-Nusra is not engaged in any peace or mediation process.

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