For months many members of the Free Syrian Army and Nusra Front have alleged that the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) was coopertaing with the Assad regime. In many battles, ISIS would just withdraw and leave the FSA and Nusra exposed. ISIS which evolved out of al-Qaeda in Iraq, was helped in its early days by the Assad regime. Last Spring, whne the rebels had the upper hand, ISIS appeared and tried to take over Nusra. AL-Qaeda central ordered them to back off and they disobeyed. Since then, al-Qaeda has disassociated with them.
Syrian opposition groups now present evidence that ISIS indeed cooperates with Assad. In fact some of its leaders are Syrian intelligence or military officers.
Syria’s main opposition group says it has found proof that al-Qaeda’s affiliate – the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, commonly known as ISIS — is jointly working with the government in Damascus to undermine rebel groups fighting to overthrow president Bashar al-Assad.
According to documents revealed by the Syrian National Coalition, several field commanders of the al-Qaeda affiliate were former military or intelligence officers of the Syrian army.
These commanders are coordinating military operations with the Assad’s forces, providing them with information about rebel fighters and facilitating the recapture of areas previously controlled by the rebel Free Syrian Army.
The opposition notes that Assad’s air force never targeted the usually conspicuous and large camps operated by ISIS in several parts of the country.
The Syrian soap opera continues.
In other news, ISIS has now created a Palestinian branch in Gaza called Al-Dawla al-Islam.
I wonder if the Nusa/al-Qaeda vs. ISIS fight will reach Gaza and what Hamas will do?
Tags: Bashar Assad, Free Syrian Army, ISIS, Nusra Front, Syrian War
