UN: Syria War Sectarian, Al-Qaeda more Influential

Local Editor

UN investigators warned Thursday that the newly formed extremist armed opposition groups were increasingly operating in Syria.

"As battles between government forces and anti-government armed groups approach the end of their second year, the conflict has become overtly sectarian in nature," the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in a report.

It further warned that "Minority groups such as the Armenians, Christians, Druze, Palestinians, Kurds and Turkmen had also been drawn into the conflict and were being forced to choose sides."
The report also admitted the great presence of al-Qaeda fighters in Syria, claiming that they were operating independently of "FSA". It said some of them were linked to "Islamist" and other extremist groups such as al-Nursa Front.

In this context, the UN highlighted that "Foreign fighters, many with links to extremist groups, were also present in several parts of the country, including the Aleppo region, scene of some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks."
Meanwhile, experts cautioned that "the rise of al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, al-Nusra Front could usher in a long and deadly confrontation."
The front has claimed responsibility for spectacular and deadly bombings in Damascus and Aleppo.

According to Site Intelligence group, al-Nusra claimed responsibility in one day alone last month for 45 attacks in Damascus, Daraa, Hama, and Homs provinces that reportedly killed dozens, including 60 in a single suicide bombing.
"Our aim is to depose al-Assad ...and build the "Islamic caliphate". Many in the "Free Syrian Army" have ideas like us and want an Islamic state," Omar, 25-year-old al-Nusra fighter, told Reuters.

Several videos have appeared on the Internet in recent weeks showing al-Nusra-linked fighters shooting and beheading captured Syrians.

But many opposition campaigners fear that al-Nusra will turn its guns on any non-extremist order.
"Al-Nusra is the type of group that could declare the most pious cleric a heretic and kill him in the middle of a mosque just because he does not share its view," the opposition figure said.
Al-Nusra members are estimated to number in the thousands and are particularly strong in the northern region of Aleppo and Idlib, where they have joined or carried out joint operations with other extremist groups such as Ahrar al-Sham and Liwa al-Tawhid unit.

Another opposition figure, who did not want to be named, said international intelligence agencies were trying to curb al-Nusra's influence in Damascus and the southern Hauran Plain.
"Western intelligence agencies are realizing that the al-Nusra Front is the biggest threat in a post-Assad Syria and are devoting more resources to deal with the threat," he said.


Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org