Al Nusrah Front rejects UN-proposed truce

The Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, an al Qaeda-linked jihadist group that is fighting Bashir al Assad’s regime in Syria, has rejected calls from UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to abide by a ceasefire for Eid al Adha. Al Nusrah released a statement, which was translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, claiming that it wouldn’t “play such dirty games” and would continue fighting. Al Nusrah also urged “those who trust” not to abide by a ceasefire. An excerpt from the statement is below:

As for the position of the Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, from the Mujahideen of the Levant in the Fields of Jihad, we stress that we had decided our position since the first statement clearly, and we explained our goals and our means in a way that leaves no room for doubt. Based on that:

There is no truce between us and this transgressing regime that is shedding the blood of Muslims and violating their honors. There is nothing between us and it, by Allah, other than the sword, until Allah rules…

Meanwhile, Brahimi announced an agreement for a four-day ceasefire, and the Assad regime has reportedly agreed to the ceasefire. Other rebel groups said they would cease fire provided the government forces stop shooting first. But don’t expect Assad’s forces to halt the fighting.

Al Nusrah has had success against the Syrian military and security forces over the past several months. It has conducted effective suicide attacks and assaults, and even took control of an air defense and missile base in a joint operation with the Free Syrian Army and “Chechen” fighters.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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2 Comments

  • mike merlo says:

    what a relief. For a moment there I thought the Muslims were going to come to their senses & stop murdering each other

  • Thaffar maaitah says:

    If all conflict elements agreed to ceasefire except al Nusra front …I think we have to take this as very serious issue… Al Nusra still not in the strength which they are planning for but yet they started opposing the decision of the free army .. The big question ..what will be the situation when al Nusra will be in a better strength … We have to stop and start taking an action against them .. Or in the coming futur not only Syria alone will pay the price for being narrow minded ..but all the region including Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt… As tier one .. Then tier two will europe and USA .. In other words we all will pay more than expected.

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