Is This Al Qaeda's Strategy To Defeat President Bashar Assad?

Rebel fighters, one of them carrying a flag used by al Qaeda's Nusra Front, celebrate at the Mihrab roundabout in the Idlib city centre, after they took control of the area on March 28, 2015. Reuters/Khalil Ashawi

IBTimes: Jabhat Al-Nusra's Win In Idlib Highlights Al Qaeda's Strategy To Defeat President Bashar Assad

The Syrian civil war began as a battle between Syrian opposition groups and President Bashar Assad’s regime, but the battleground quickly evolved into a kaleidoscope of brigades and battalions fighting each other, the regime and terrorist organizations like the Islamic State group. And now, four years into a conflict that is increasingly pulling in foreign fighters and international powers, one Syrian faction has emerged as the most effective one fighting Assad: al Qaeda.

Al Qaeda’s branch in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra (JN), has capitalized on the threat of the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and the increasing ineffectiveness of moderate rebel groups. And it has succeeded on the ground thanks to a military strategy that relies on partnerships with other rebel groups, many of whom JN said it would be willing to include in a post-Assad Syrian government.

WNU Editor: One of the reasons why President Bashar Assad’s regime has been able to stay in power for so long has been (and still is) the disunity among his opponents .... both politically and militarily. If these rebel groups are able to unify, the military dynamics will definitely change on the ground .... but politically .... the idea of Al Qaeda being victorious in Syria .... I cannot even begin listing the nightmare scenarios that are going through my mind on that prospect.

Syria's al-Nusra Front Top Military Commander 'Killed In Airstrike'

Al Jazeera: Senior Nusra Front commander killed in Syria air strike

Syrian al-Qaeda branch confirms Abu Hammam al-Shami died during regime attack on meeting of group's commanders in Idlib.

An air strike by Syrian government forces has killed a senior commander of al-Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, the group and state media have said.

The SANA state news agency said Abu Hammam al-Shami, also known as al-Farouq al-Suri, was killed in a special army operation in Idlib province on Thursday.

Al-Shami, a veteran al-Qaeda leader from Damascus, held the title of general military commander for al-Nusra Front.

Last week, members of the armed group had said he had been killed in a US drone strike.

More News On Syria's al-Nusra Front's Top Military Commander Being Killed In An Airstrike

Blast Kills Al Nusra Commander, Three Qaeda Leaders -- Daily Beast
Future of Syria's Nusra Front in question after commander killed -- Reuters
Syria's al-Nusra Front commander 'killed in strike' -- BBC
Nusra Front commander killed in airstrike, group says -- AP
Syria Says It Killed Military Leader of Al-Qaida Group -- ABC News
Source: Syrian warplanes kill leaders of al Qaeda affiliate -- CNN
Blast kills top leaders of Qaeda branch in Syria -- Al Arabiya
Confusion over 'killing' of top Nusra Front commander -- France 24
Analysis: Commander’s death leaves Nusra Front in limbo -- Al Arabiya/Reuters

The Rebranding Of A Syrian Al Qaeda Linked Rebel Group

Members of al Qaeda's Nusra Front gesture as they drive in a convoy touring villages, which they said they have seized control of from Syrian rebel factions, in the southern countryside of Idlib, December 2, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Khalil Ashawi

(Reuters) - Leaders of Syria's Nusra Front are considering cutting their links with al Qaeda to form a new entity backed by some Gulf states trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad, sources said.

Sources within and close to Nusra said that Qatar, which enjoys good relations with the group, is encouraging the group to go ahead with the move, which would give Nusra a boost in funding.

The exercise could transform Nusra from a weakened militia group into a force capable of taking on Islamic State at a time when it is under pressure from bombing raids and advances by Kurdish and Iraqi military forces.

WNU Editor: With the defeat of U.S. backed Syrian rebels in the northern part of the country by the Al Qaeda linked al-Nusra Front .... this soon to be "re-branded group" will have the weapons .... U.S.-Backed Syrian Rebel Group Collapses, U.S.-Supplied Weapons End Up in Al-Qaeda Hands. Unexpectedly. (PJ Media). Here is a sober analysis on this development .... U.S., Qatar Plan To Rebrand AlQaeda Into "Moderate" Rebels (Moon Of Alabama).

More News On Reports That Syrian Rebel Group Al-Nusra Wants To Sever All Ties With Al Qaeda

Syria's Nusra Front may leave Qaida to form new entity -- Jerusalem Post
Syria's al-Nusra Front mulls cutting al-Qaeda ties in Qatar-backed plan: sources -- Middle East Eye
Al-Qaeda Losing ‘Deadly Competition’ With ISIS -- Jack Moore, Newsweek

WNU Editor: Hat Tip to reader Jay for this lead.

Al Qaeda Now Has A 'Mini-State' In Syria

Gaining control: The al-Nusra Front have carved out their own territory in the region, marked above in pink, raising fears a second jihadist mini-state could thwart any attempts by western forces to end the barbarity

Daily Mail: Al-Qaeda faction carves out second jihadist 'mini-state' in Syria to rival Islamic State

* Al-Nusra Front are gaining control across Idlib province in northern Syria
* Have driven out other rebel groups including western-armed moderates
* Raises fears second jihadist 'mini-state' could defeat efforts to end unrest

WNU Editor: More proof that these earlier White House claims were .... to put it bluntly .... slightly premature.