Al-Qaeda Affiliates Become Main Fighters In Syria

Al-Qaeda Affiliates Become Main Fighters In Syria

With the civil war in Syria going on its second year, a report from the London based counter terrorism institute Quilliam Foundation shows that the group Jabhat al-Nusra is becoming the main opposition to the government forces that serve current president Bashar al-Assad.

As of last month the group is considered an al-Qaeda affiliate by the United States Government. The group has become the main rebel force fighting in Syria with close to 5000 fighters.

The lead author of the study, Noman Benotman, a former jihadist, has confirmed that the civil war in Syria is a “godsend” for the terrorist group. So at a time when al-Qaeda’s power seems to be dwindling, the chance that a powerful affiliate will take power in a post Assad Syria is going to be a challenge for the future of the region and of world security.

Jabhat al-Nusra seems to be the Syrian equivalent of al-Qaeda in Irak, the terrorist group founded bu Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, also known as AQI.

A group that has gained power in Irak since the U.S. troops have departed. Al-Nusra is considered a branch of the AQI also known as al-Qaeda Irak, that is trying to hijack the Syrian revolution for its own purposes.

Posted by James Fried on Wednesday January 09 2013, 8:12 AM EST. Ref: CNN. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0