An activist interested in the affairs of Islamist factions in northern Syria published a series of tweets on Twitter on Tuesday, July 26, speaking about the intention of the Nusra Front to break ties with Al-Qaeda and about defections in its ranks.
Activist “Muzamjar al-Sham” said that: “The split from Al-Qaeda is not the only change which Nusra will see. Leaders in the group defected from it and other leaders will announce their defection shortly.”
Muzamjar spoke about a potential video recording where Nusra announces breaking its ties with Al-Qaeda, adding that, “A dispute has been occurring inside the corridors of the organization for months,” while noting that the statement will announce the change of name and banner.
The activist asked, “Wasn’t the breaking of ties the one barrier to the unification of the Jaish al-Fatah (Army of Conquest) nations just months ago, yet you rejected this step? So how is this giving priority to the interests of the field?” He called on the Nusra Front leader Abou Mohamed al-Jolani to “explain to us what happened when you refused to break ties at that time.”
He said that despite the reasons and motives, the step of breaking ties was “positive and should be used to return all factions to the track of the Syrian revolution and its project, even if this is coming late.”
Muzamjar's tweets were not limited to Nusra, but included accusations against Jordan and America of making offers to the Ahrar al-Sham movement consisting of promises of unlimited support in exchange for “defection.”
The activists said that Jordan “previously succeeded in convincing the Yarmouk brigade, which was one of the constituents of Ahrar al-Sham, to split from the movement and form what is known as the Yarmouk Army, while through mediators it offered the faction in Daraa to defect in exchange for high support and and turning it into an army.” The movement refused this, he said.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
