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The rise of Syria’s ‘third army’, Jabhat al-Nusra – SYRIA – FRANCE 24

By C. J. Refsland on December 11, 2012 • ( 0 )

Describing themselves as “soldiers of God”,

As the conflict in Syria continues a third army has emerged, the Jabhat al-Nusra (“the Support Front”), a small group of Islamist militants fighting for their own cause. The United States on Monday labelled the group a foreign terrorist organisation.

By FRANCE 24 (text)

Amid Syria’s ongoing bloody civil war, a third army has emerged that is officially fighting neither for President Bashar al-Assad’s regime nor for the rebels of the Free Syrian Army. Despite its relatively small numbers – only several hundred fighters compared to the rebels’ tens of thousands and the regime’s hundreds of thousands – the Jabhat al-Nusra was officially recognised as a terrorist organisation on Monday by the United States, which believes it is essentially a wing of al Qaeda in Iraq.

Officially, Jabhat al-Nusra militants are independent, loyal to no one but themselves. But on the ground they have often teamed up with the Free Syrian Army, according to one of FRANCE 24’s Observers, a local rebel commander.

Describing themselves as “soldiers of God”, Jabhat al-Nusra is made up of fearless and mostly foreign militants from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Central Asia. The radical Islamists say they have carried out 500 attacks since their formation earlier this year, with numerous victories helping to boost their notoriety. Their latest coup – Monday’s capture of the Sheikh Suleiman army base, the last major base west of Aleppo still under control by Syria’s armed forces – was strategically vital.

via The rise of Syria’s ‘third army’, Jabhat al-Nusra – SYRIA – FRANCE 24.