Qaeda in Iraq: Syria’s Nusra Front is part of us

The Islamist militant group has gained notoriety
for its suicide bombings but also won admiration among some insurgents over its
reputation as a formidable fighting force leading attacks on battlefronts across
Syria.

The West has been wary, and in December the United
States announced it was labelling Al-Nusra Front a "terrorist" organisation
because of suspected ties to Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
At the time, the US State Department described it
as a "new alias" for Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and said it was "an attempt by AQI to
hijack the struggles of the Syrian people for its own malign purposes".
According to the US, the head of Al-Qaeda in Iraq
"is in control of both AQI and Al-Nusra" and reports on Internet forums used by
jihadists indicate hundreds of militants have made the trip from Iraq into Syria
to fight Assad's regime.
Officially, Al-Nusra was established in January
2012, according to a video statement declaring its creation. It is a magnet for
foreign fighters seeking to take part in the uprising against the Syrian
regime.
Suspicions about Al-Nusra's ties to ISI were
raised by similarities in the group's tactics, including their preference for
suicide and car bomb attacks.
The formal announcement of the ties could
complicate the West's ongoing involvement with rebel forces battling Assad's
regime.
Despite backing the uprising, Western governments
have shown little enthusiasm for arming its fighters, in part for fear of the
weapons falling into the hands of Al-Qaeda allied groups like Al-Nusra.
No group claimed responsibility for Monday's
bombing in Damascus, but the opposition National Coalition condemned the attack,
while suggesting Assad's regime bore responsibility.
The Syrian Coalition, on behalf of the Syrian
people, condemns without any hesitation, all bombings and hostilities against
civilians, and considers these acts crimes against humanity," the group said in
a statement on Tuesday.
Syria's conflict, now in its third year, is
believed to have killed more than 70,000 people since it erupted.
At least another 89 people -- 42 civilians, 26
rebels and 22 soldiers -- were killed across the country on Monday, said the
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

من الظلمات الى النور اليك هذه السطور المتواضعة.
كتبت بقلمك وحبك وعنفوان احساسك العالي.
بلهفة قلمك على الكتابة وشجن الحروف بالاناقة.
يشتعل نارا من يدخل بين كلماتك نار الشوق الكبير.
حروفك ملتهبة بشموع احساسك العالي.
تخطف من يراك الى عالم الابداع لهيب شوقك.
الزهر والاشجار تبتسم عندما ترى كلماتك.
لانها تشعر بنشوى تملأ دنيتها وتتالق.
كتبت الاحساس العالي كله والرقة باشكالها.
وتتوافد العطور من عباراتك التي توجتها بحروفك المضيئة.
عاش قلمك الحساس الرقيق.
وعاشت كتاباتك الانيقة الرقيقة.
دمت لنا ودام صرير قلمك الرائع.
باحترام تلميذك
ابي مازن

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