– AL QAEDA’S INSIDE DISPUTE

 

Al Qaeda’s leader in Iraq Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has rejected orders from Ayman Al Zawahiri, the group’s global chief, to break up his group’s claimed union with the Syrian Jabhat al-Nusra (The Victorious Front), according to a new audio message, on Saturday 06/15/2013..

The purported remarks by head of Islamic State of Iraq Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the message posted on jihadist forums on Saturday indicate tensions between the Iraqi branch and al-Qaeda’s central command. In 04/2013, al-Baghdadi announced that his group had merged with Syria’s Jabhat al-Nusra.

Al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani acknowledged a relationship between the two groups, but he denied there had been a merger and publicly pledged his allegiance to Zawahiri (see also – Footage 04.18.08 ). 

In Saturday’s message, the man identified as Baghdadi said “the Islamic State of Iraq (I-S-I) and the Levant will remain, as long as we have a vein pumping or an eye blinking. It remains and we will not compromise nor give it up” he said.

Earlier this month, Zawahiri ruled that the Islamic State of Iraq I-S-I and al-Nusra should operate as separate entities, according to a letter released to Al-Jazeera. al-Baghdadi had “made a mistake” by announcing a merger “without consulting us”, he said. The merger plan has been “damaging to all jihadists”, Zawahiri said, adding that “Al-Nusra Front is an independent branch of Al Qaeda” (see also – Hassan Ghul’s letters).

But the message on Saturday said: “When it comes to the letter of Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri – may God protect him – we have many legal and methodological reservations.” After consulting with the consultative council of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant […] I chose the order of God over the orders that contravenes Allah in the letter. The audio message could not immediately be independently verified.

Jabhat Al-Nusra, created in 01/2012, joined al-Qaeda last December on a US list of foreign terrorist organisations. An al-Nusra front member in Syria, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Al Jazeera that following the release of Zawahiri’s letter, many members from Iraq rejoined al-Nusra, particularly in the province of Deir Ezzor (see also – Shiite Arc).

He said this new audio recording causes further division and confusion among those fighting on the ground. “Defying the orders of Zawahiri is a black dot on Baghdadi’s career”, he said.

Among elements fighting to oust the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, al-Nusra is one of the best armed and most successful on the battlefield. It has carried out some of the deadliest attacks in the uprising, claiming responsibility for several suicide bombings  (see – Sham Al-Nusra).

Although the formation of a united Muslim khalifate in the Middle East is one of the main goals of al-Qaeda it is assumed that al-Zawahiri concern is that the linkage between Al Qaeda and the Syrian rebels is an obstacle to wider international support for the rebels (see – SYRIAN DILEMA).

* Related topics –  

04-2013 -JABHAT AL-NUSRA, A THREAT TO THE WEST
03/2013 -EX U.S SOLDIER ERIC HARROUN FOUGHT IN SYRIA
09/2012 -THE SALAFI THREAT
09/2012 -MANY MILITANTS ESCAPED IRAQ’S TIKRIT JAIL 

*****************************

Read more ;