Qaida Chief Urges Syria Jihadists to Fight for Anti-U.S. Govt
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has called on jihadists fighting in Syria's civil war to unite and fight for the establishment of an anti-U.S. government in Damascus, in a newly released audio message.
Syria's President Bashar Assad belongs to the Alawite sect of Shiite Islam, while the divided rebels fighting to oust his regime are mainly Sunni Muslims, including the jihadist Al-Nusra Front.
"Unite, listen and agree that you shall not lay down your arms and leave your trenches until the establishment in the Levant of an Islamic state that will restore the caliphate," said Zawahiri.
"The United States, it associates and allies want you to sacrifice your blood... to bring down the criminal Alawite regime and install a government in its pay and to preserve Israel's security," he said in the message posted on Islamist websites on Thursday.
"The jihad in the Levant should work to establish a combatant Islamic caliphate that continues to make sacrifices... until the banner of jihad and Islam is hoisted.
"Your laudable jihad gives hope for the recovery of Palestine, 65 years after it was robbed from us," he added in the message marking the anniversary of the Six-Day War in which Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Syria's civil war flared after Assad's forces launched a bloody crackdown on democracy protests that erupted in March 2011.
Tens of thousands of Syrians have since been killed and millions forced to flee their homes.
Assad's government insists it is fighting "terrorists" who want to impose an Islamic state.
This assertion was bolstered in April when Al-Nusra Front leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani pledged allegiance to Zawahiri.
The vow came after the al-Qaida chief urged rebels to fight for the establishment of an Islamic state in Syria, a call that was met with caution by the mainstream rebel group, the Free Syrian Army.
06 June 2013, 11:43
11
Shouldn't the US apply the universal formula: the enemy of my enemy is my friend? Thank you, Hizbullah. No? Whatever...
06 June 2013, 12:08
31
Unless and until Ayman al-Zawahiri has big bucks like Qatar and the KSA he should just stay quiet. Doesn't he know that Qaeda is almost entirely a "rent a terrorist" business?
Anyway, this will only further divide the already fractious partnership between "those fighting" and "those that are appointed" in the "Syrian Opposition".
06 June 2013, 12:09
34
What a retard. There already is an anti-US government in Damascus.
06 June 2013, 13:34
21
America, England and especially France have to think ten times before supporting those backward primitive jihadist gangs. This Zawahiri is mentally retarded, his statements will encourage the West to support the Syrian government. American is capable to reach and kill him, what is she waiting for ? Is he an American/Saudi/Qatari instrument??
06 June 2013, 13:36
15
I am a bit confused and Israel must be really worried.
Hezbollah leaders: we are fighting American/Israel/Takfiri
Zawahiri: Fighting US/Syrian establishment who are protecting Israel
Assad: Threatens Israel (???)
In the meantime:
Israel educates, does research, exports, excel in science.
Arabs: Want to make califates, wylayat fakih, segregate between religions and sects, send their youth to be killed and kill in the name of God BUT the ultimate goal is fighting Israel. Where? in the streets of Lebanon/Syria etc.. Killing the our young population.
What if all this effort was put in education, teaching respect and acceptance of our different believes.
We are in the 3aser of Al-Jahyliah, even worse because we should know better.
06 June 2013, 14:49
13
The arabs discovered a great scapegoat to blame all their problems on, so whether it's wars or erectile dysfunction, they now can blame it all on israel instead of solving (or even trying to identify) the problem.
06 June 2013, 15:32
23
Oh well it is simple really...
Bashar is fighting the Americans/Zionists in Syria
Hezbollah is fighting the Americans/Zionists in Syria
Al Quaeda is fighting the Americans/Zionists in Syria
The Syrians are dying.
The Americans and the Israelis are lying in their beds, watching the show, having a laugh.
Stupid fanatical arabs!
06 June 2013, 16:25
11
...and "the Americans/Zionists" don't even feel a tickle because all those "fighting" them are actually fighting each other instead.
06 June 2013, 15:34
22
...actually, if he could get out of his cave and blow himself in Nasralla's cave... we would have a blast :)
06 June 2013, 16:31
03
Why dont you go attack israel you lowlife instead of attacking arab regimes?
Cant do it? Criminal antichrist!
06 June 2013, 18:04
13
Hey, aren't those takfiri groups supposed to be allied with the West, according to Hezb?
Uh-oh, guess Hezb has to go find another excuse as to why they're fighting in Syria.
06 June 2013, 22:29
03
You actually believe there's this huge conspiracy going on, that these leaders are united in lying to allllll of their citizens and followers, and are allies?
Come on, you simply cannot distort logic this much just to convince yourself that al-Manar propaganda is true.
Go read US diplomatic cables and state department websites, and listen to the internal politics going on there. If you do that, you'll realize that the US is far, far from comfortable when they hear these groups talk.
And don't label me as some pro-Western Zionist. I personally believe US foreign policies is an important factor in the radicalization of the region. But the US pursues these policies not because it likes al-Qaeda and other takfiri groups as you and Hezb suggest - it is mainly to protect Israel, and Israel only.
06 June 2013, 22:32
03
And I hate it when anti-imperialists, pro-regime folks make it sound as if Assad is so against the West. Assad was absolutely instrumental in advising US intelligence in the run-up and throughout the Iraqi invasion, as the US wanted to keep an eye out on hostile Sunni jihadists, just like Assad was wary about it as well. So the two collaborated, and a quick research on that should confirm to you that Assad did indeed collaborate with the US many times.
07 June 2013, 11:13
00
Attention all terrorists:
Please converge on Syria as you masters Al-Zawahiri and John McCain have ordered you. The Syrian Arab Army and the invicinble men of the Resistance are waiting for you over there and will slaughter you upon arrival. Come and die in Syria; this is what Al-Zawahiri has planned for you.
