Al-Qaeda ousts FSA partners from Raqqa

Al-Qaeda ousts FSA partners from Raqqa
Thu Aug 15, 2013 17:14:31

Terrorists from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant and the Greater Syria have clashed with members of a group affiliated to the so-called Free Syrian Army, driving them out from the city of Raqqa.

Fractions and conflicts between different militant and terrorist groups fighting against Syria are on the rise, with reports of two al-Qaeda main affiliated groups forcing to gain more ground against their previous partners in the massive deadly insurgency in the Arab country, while smaller groups continue conflicts of their own.

The fighting took place in Raqqa, where AQI fighters overran the FSA’s Ahfad al-Rasoul brigade, capturing the group’s headquarters and forcing its fighters to flee into neighboring Turkey.

Militants familiar with the situation, say that the fighting over Raqqa had been going on off and on for months, but picked up in the past week.

Raqqa has been the site of multiple protests, with locals angry that they are being occupied by foreign factions, and that those factions are constantly at odds.

FSA members are not welcomed in many parts of Syria after they gathered in terrorists from several other countries to bring down the government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

According to local reports, anti-government forces have turned to be referred as anti-Syria forces among people.

Fighting between ISIS and the Ahfad al-Rasoul brigade for control of Raqqa has intensified over the last week.

The battle culminated with the extremist group detonating a car bomb early Wednesday at the city’s main train station, killing Rasoul commanders Abu Mazen and Fahd Hussein al-Kajwan.

The Al-Qaeda-linked ISIS clashed with Rasoul armed men at the brigade’s headquarters, which they eventually overran, with most of the group withdrawing to Turkey Wednesday.

Free Syrian Army leaders have acknowledged that the fighting between their brigades and extremists rivals has reached a critical stage.

After more than two years of fighting side-by-side and leading one of the bloodiest conflicts in the recent history of middle east, FSA and al-Qaeda affiliated groups have been making some moves against each other following reports of West’s apparent concerns over sending more arms to Syria and possibility of them falling into the hands of terrorists.

Analysts say West’s pressures for opening a way to send arms to militants in Syria and not the terrorists is actually differentiating the anti-Syria armed groups to “good terrorists” and “bad terrorists”.

Militants in Syria have been committing numerous war crimes against people and Syrian army soldiers throughout the country during their bloody war.

SHI/SHI

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