Syria Islamist Rebels Reject Qaida Allegiance Vow
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A major coalition of Islamist rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar Assad has denounced al-Nusra Front's pledge of allegiance to al-Qaida, urging insurgents to unite behind moderate Islam.
"When we in Syria launched our jihad (holy war) against the sectarian regime, we did not do so for the sake of allegiance to a man here or another there," said the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front (SILF) in a statement late on Thursday.
It also rejected "imposing anything on (Syria's) fighters and the people that they were not willing" to accept, said the statement posted on Facebook.
The SILF comprises some 20 rebel groups, and is represented in the mainstream rebel Free Syrian Army's command council.
It includes Liwa al-Tawhid, Suqour al-Sham, Liwa al-Islam and the Farouk brigade, which are among the opposition's most prominent insurgent forces.
The statement followed a raging debate among rebels and activists over a surprise announcement by al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani of allegiance to al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri.
"We have no need for imported ideologies or a new understanding of Islam," said the SILF, in an unequivocal attack on al-Qaida extremism.
"We should not be chasing power or positions," it added, criticizing al-Nusra for "putting the cart before the horse" by prematurely adopting a call for an Islamic state in Syria.
It also lashed out against a reported merger of al-Nusra with al-Qaida's Islamic State in Iraq, announced by the latter's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The group was "surprised and dismayed" at Baghdadi's statement, said the SILF, saying it learned of it "through the media".
"It does no service to our people or to our (Islamic) nation to pledge allegiance to those who know nothing about our reality, while most of our cities are occupied (by Assad's forces) and criminality continues to rage," it said.
The SILF also said the recent announcements only serve to "sow conflict and dissension among fighters' ranks at a difficult time", and that insurgents should "unite... under the flag of moderate Islam."
12 April 2013, 19:40
66
It is a tactic by the regime and regime supporters to start infighting and give legitimacy to their "fighting terrorists" claims. Also to strike fear in syrians that although the assads are horrific beings the alternative is worse. They actually take it a step further and tell all the Lebanese that if assad is ousted, the big bad wolf (al-quaida) is going to come to Lebanon and eat and rape your children and pets. Is it working? just ask some of the so called LFers (on here at least) that all of a sudden are staunch HA supporters.
12 April 2013, 22:24
54
"It is a tactic by the regime and regime supporters to start infighting and give legitimacy to their "fighting terrorists" claims."
that was crystal clear from the very beginning of this revolution....
12 April 2013, 23:53
05
Lebanonfirst, at one point we have to realize that these islamist extremist, even if few in numbers, will pose a threat, and a big one, if they are left to play arounf like they're doing now.
I know they are not the majority of the fsa, but how many men did it take to hold zahle or tel el zaatar. I am sure it is less than what the nusra has now.
I understand why fsa chose them for help, but that doesn't mean we should welcome them with open arms because in this point in time they are fighting for the same cause.
Once they are done with their mess, there is no telling what they will decide to do
13 April 2013, 01:11
43
Rudy what you say is true but that does mean we kill off the FSA and bow down to Assad. This is a legitimate revolution!
13 April 2013, 03:09
02
You are right, it is! But that doesn't mean we should just welcome them for the help they are providing.
The rebels should also be strategic when dealing with nusra. We all know thayt once assad is out, it won't be a smooth transition. the extremists will want to build their own version of a country while the people will want a different version. The only problem is nusra will be the stronger faction.
So yes it is legitimate and yes the assad regime is getting what it deserves, but like in any other war, there should be a strategy. What I think should be the fsa's strategy is letting qaeda elements fight assad while they gather their strength. When both are weakened, the opportunity will be there
13 April 2013, 07:55
10
rudy, first of all fsa didn't "choose" nusra for anything. They just showed up and formed their own movement. FSA is a little busy at the moment fighting for their lives. They don't really have the time or inclination to fight someone who is fighting the same enemy. I also dont see how can call al nusra the stronger faction, they are 10,000 strong at most where the FSA is 100,000.
12 April 2013, 20:58
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the1phoenix, What if what if what if...the possibilities are endless so please don't over react and try scarring the Christians, the Islamist Rebels are under the FSA umbrella, Al Nusra are not part of the FSA but they do coordinate attacks together, this is the reality of war on the ground. The main enemy right now is the butcher Assad. Some M8 people refuse and others cannot comprehend that VAST majority of Sunnis are NOT fanatics...stop this silliness and scare tactics...
12 April 2013, 21:58
34
glad to hear you say 'islamic' is way different than the radical 'islamist'. At least we see eye to eye on that. Habibi the issue with HA goes far beyond being an islamic resistance which was relevant back in the day resistance was necessary during the civil was and Israel's occupation. We have moved way past that these days the issues they are posing are beyond catastrophic for any state.
12 April 2013, 22:17
30
why do you waste your time on this the1phoenix who disguises himself under the picture of bachir gemeyal but comes on here to attack march 14?
12 April 2013, 22:30
35
FT it makes you a hypocrit too.... you accuse others of what you are!
hezbis are an "islamic resistance" as they say, not "lebanese resistance" is written on their flag...moqawama islamiya mish lebnaniya!
so if you accept to be allied with an islamic extremist party you should not condemn the alliance between fsa and the silf!
it is the exact same thing, syrian style!
my advice to you then is to apply to yourself what you lecture others to do....
13 April 2013, 00:15
21
http://m.naharnet.com/stories/en/79329-reports-hizbullah-convoy-fires-on-car-at-masnaa-border-crossing
Case in point. But I'm sure you will dismiss the story as a lie on the ever so victimized HA.
12 April 2013, 21:44
31
occupy wallstreet mhebeel appointed prime misisters and formed governments abroad?
12 April 2013, 21:58
00
FT where does HA and Mustaqbal take orders from Iran ans SA respectively, why dont we all get along and live in peace.
12 April 2013, 22:13
42
very strong and wise message by Syrian Islamic Liberation Front.. may god grant you many more victories in the name of the syrian nation!
12 April 2013, 22:16
51
at least occupy wall street who are 10 times more educated than you (given that you call them mhebeel) have the right and ability to protest peacefully unlike what your allies subject opposition to!
12 April 2013, 23:55
43
Knowing your point of views ft I would have assumed you would support the occupy movement.
Seems to me you have no ideology other than what aoun is thinking at any point in time
13 April 2013, 00:51
42
If it wasn't for the resistance we would have no balance of power in our country, therefore keep it up HA we don't want these filthy non-Lebanese Islamic Radicals running around & causing havoc amongst us , we had enough during the civil war period. Anyone that kills in the name of Allah deserves no place but one & that is hell !!
13 April 2013, 01:26
42
al-Qaida + Hezb Iran+ al-Nusra ,same backwards people with a different name ,screw them all .
13 April 2013, 02:17
43
Excellent, just let the FSA-Al Qaeda terrorists fight amongst themselves and spare the innocent civilian blood.
13 April 2013, 20:28
00
FT- if you can't manage to tie the right analogy to the previous sentence then don't blame me. Remember stupid is as stupid does. One day you will raise you IQ to the level of Forest Gump and understand the meaning of that.
