-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
1/13
show ad
Now hundreds of Syrian rebels defect to AlQaeda: 'Civil war within the civil war'weakens the battle to topple Assad
Infighting has alarmed London, Washington and Paris
Radical groups are growing in power, according to rival rebels
By David Williams, Chief Reporter
PUBLISHED: 15:14 GMT, 20 September 2013 | UPDATED: 11:47 GMT, 21 September 2013
163 shares
84
View
comments
Rebel leaders in Syria warned last night that gunmen linked to Al Qaeda were undermining the battle
to oust tyrant Bashar al-Assad.
Hundreds of rebel fighters are defecting and pledging allegiance to the extremists, according to
sources.
Entire units are said to have joined the small but powerful Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in recent days.
Scroll down for video
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
2/13
A rebel fighter cleans his weapon as two of his comrades look on in Aleppo yesterday.
Syrian rebels have agreed a ceasefire with Al Qaeda loyalists after bitter fighting for a
key border town
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
2 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
3/13
A good, clean fight? Hundreds of rebel fighters, not pictured, are defecting and pledging
allegiance to the extremists
This is a sign the radical groups are still growing in power ... this region could fall to the jihadists, said
an activist in the eastern town of Raqqa, adding: We may see this become a trend.
At least two entire rebel brigades are said to have joined the Nusra Front in opposition-held Raqqa,which borders Turkey. One of the groups, the Raqqa Revolutionaries, is said to have about 750
fighters.
A video uploaded by activists from Raqqa yesterday showed a massive convoy of fighters on cars and
trucks with artillery and machine guns as they waved black flags. The videos title said it was a newly
unified force of Nusra fighters and other rebel battalions which had recently pledged loyalty.
Hundreds of Syria rebels pledge loyalty to al-Qaeda groups
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
3 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
4/13
In one glimmer of reconciliation, Al Qaeda fighters and a rival Syrian rebel group agreed a truce to end
two days of vicious infighting in the northern town of Azaz which militant Islamists had seized from
more moderate rebels.
The clashes dubbed a civil war within the civil war have alarmed London, Washington and Paris,
especially as it is seen as weakening the two-and-a-half-year revolt against Assad. Fighting has been
intensifying between Nusra/ISIL and the less effective but more moderate forces that make up the
majority of opposition fighters.
Many Syrian rebels are attracted to radical units because they are generally more effective than the
moderate forces which have Western backing but receive only halting military aid.
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
4 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
5/13
A rebel fighter fires at pro-government forces in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo
yesterday, as the ceasefire struggles to reach most parts of the country
Islamists have steady, private sources of funding and experienced militants, many of them from
abroad, who have fought US forces in Iraq or Afghanistan. The divisions in the anti-Assad forces have
led to warnings that any US-led military strikes would help Al Qaeda factions and that weapons
supplied by the Western allies could end up in their hands.
During the time ISIL has controlled Azaz, it is reported to have made several arrests of activists,
journalists and even sharia court officials. One witness inside the town said no-one was smoking on
the streets tobacco is forbidden under some strict interpretations of Islamic doctrine.
Yet the opposition to Assad remains widespread. One example of its diversity is the all-female Mother
Aisha battalion in Aleppo, comprising former teachers whose members cover their faces as they carry
out duties such as reconnaissance.
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
5 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
6/13
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
7/13
Your move: Syrian men play a game of chess in a park in Damascus yesterday. The
30-month war has killed more than 110,000 people and forced more than two million to
flee
Syria yesterday submitted some details of its chemical weapons to the Organisation for the Prohibition
of Chemical Weapons in The Hague a significant step in the plan to destroy them under a joint
Russian-US proposal.
Syrias deputy prime minister Qadri Jamil was reported to have said the civil war had reached
stalemate, with neither government forces nor rebels strong enough to win and that Damascus would
use proposed talks in Geneva to call for a ceasefire. But it was later claimed he had been misquoted.
MOST WATCHED NEWS VIDEOS
Previous
1
2
3
Next
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
7 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
8/13
Adorable! Golden retriever puppy plays with baby Ella
Airport worker recounts horrific moment five-month-old dies
MUST SEE. Flower girl's gangnam wedding dance
Man brutally attacks dog. WARNING Graphic content
TV host Kevin McCloud builds a 5,000 shack out of recycled...
Two cute otters show their playful side by juggling
Another of Kakadu National Park's crocodiles eating its prey
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
8 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
9/13
'Please come home.' Sister's plea to missing 14-year-old...
Meet the flyest six-year-old dancer around
Ukip's Godfrey Bloom hits Channel4 newsman at conference
Ukip MEP Godfrey Bloom is heard to call women 'sluts'
One of vigilante paedophile hunter group Letzgo Hunting's...
MOST READ NEWS
Previous
1
2
3
Next
Call that a Grand Design? TV host Kevin McCloud builds a...
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
9 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
10/13
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
11/13
Long lost time capsule buried by Steve Jobs in 1983 FINALLY...
Boy, 11, killed in head-on-crash with Porsche as mother...
'I demand my inheritance': The first-born but illegitimate...
Sydney Leathers flaunts her body at LA poolside as Anthony...
Comments (83)
Newest
OldestBest rated
Worst rated
View all
The Terror organisations, currently on the increase in Syria will surely pose a greater threat to the world than the current
President does to his fellow countrymen, women and children. I fear Western leaders may still not fully appreciate the threat
of Al Qaeda factions in the land pose for the future. Depose Assad forces at your peril or r isk chaos and mayhem in the
none to distant future. Can't happen? Oh yes it can.
- Ted Wallis , Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, 21/9/2013 15:32
Click to rate Rating 1
Report abuse
Rebels will seek aid from who ever supports them in this case alqaida
- Crimson , UK, 21/9/2013 14:53
Click to rate Rating 2
Report abuse
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
1 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
12/13
So now you know just who your government really supports, still its a fun old world, in the rest of the world you are trying to
kill them with drones, in Syria you are arming them/
- PANAGRACE , BRUXELLES, Belgium, 21/9/2013 14:48
Click to rate Rating 9
Report abuse
we should support who the Syrian Christians support and that is Assad
- obidoug , Leighton Buzzard UK, 21/9/2013 12:47
Click to rate Rating 56
Report abuse
Anything coming from William 'Roomshare' Hagues office on this? Thought not...and there won't be. Not in my name
- merc , welshpool, 21/9/2013 12:26
Click to rate Rating 42
Report abuse
A ten year old could have seen this happening ages ago....hopeless brainless US..UK leaders!
- flodelis , Morden, 21/9/2013 12:17
Click to rate Rating 54
Report abuse
Surprize surprize.er well no actually. My pet budgie knew this was bound to happen.
- Stephen G , Merthyr Tydfil, 21/9/2013 12:10
Click to rate Rating 49
Report abuse
Every day. Events prove how totally misguided are Hague and Cameron in wanting to back the Syrian rebels.
- Bry , York, United Kingdom, 21/9/2013 11:55
Click to rate Rating 57
Report abuse
Your comments:And politicians wan give them guns!!!
- the fixer , Denmark, 21/9/2013 11:52
Click to rate Rating 38
Report abuse
This interesting turn of events is truly shocking. I wonder why no one saw it coming?
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
2 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21
-
7/27/2019 Now Hundreds of Syrian Rebels Defect to Al Qaeda
13/13
- Sam Huston , Petawawa, Canada, 21/9/2013 11:25
Click to rate Rating 43
Report abuse
Share this comment
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Like
MailOnline
Follow
@MailOnline
Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd
Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group
Associated Newspapers Ltd
Syrian rebels defect to Islamists and western-bac... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-242685
3 of 13 09/21/2013 06:21