Three Islamist fighting groups, including the large Islamic Front coalition as well as the Islamic Union of the Soldiers of al-Sham and the Army of the Mujahideen, issued a statement yesterday rejecting the Geneva II talks and vowing to fight on; they also thanked Turkey and Qatar for their support. In an effort to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham, the US, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have reportedly been funneling cash and weapons to rebel groups, including the Syrian Revolutionary Front and the Army of Islam. Five ISIS fighters were killed in clashes with regime forces in al Balat in Aleppo; ISIS fighters reportedly refused command orders to pull back and go to Menbej city, where earlier ISIS clashed with Islamic battalion fighters. ISIS closed educational institutions in Raqqah city and took over the western part of the 17th division in Raqqah province. A senior Russian official said the first round of Geneva II talks between Syria and the opposition will last seven to 10 days. Two months after declaring self-rule in parts of the northeast, Syrian Kurds formed a municipal council in Jazeera in Hasakah, and announced plans to do the same in Afrin and Kobane.
Bill Roggio is a regular guest on the John Batchelor Show from Monday through Friday to discuss the war. Check John's site for the time. Click here to listen live online at WABC.
