Baghdad: An Al-Qaeda offshoot in Iraq on Tuesday confirmed its merger with a prominent jihadist group fighting in Syria, al-Nusra Front.
The al-Nusra Front is at the forefront of the armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The leader of the Iraqi wing of al-Qaeda said that al-Nusra is battling for an Islamic state in Syria.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, head of the Islamic State in Iraq, added that both groups were merging.
He said: “We announce the abolition of the Islamic state of Iraq’s name and Jabhat Al-Nusra’s name and their amalgamation in one state under one name: The Islamic state in Iraq and the Levant.”
The declaration, made in an audio message posted online, has confirmed widespread suspicions of links between the two groups and of al-Qaeda’s presence in Syria.
The al-Nusra Front, or Jabhat al-Nusra, first appeared in January 2012 and is the best known of the militant Islamist groups involved in the fighting.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription