Ex-Qaeda in Syria joins forces with radical group

Fateh al-Sham Front says it has taken the radical Salafist Jund al-Aqsa group under its wing.

1 min read

09 October, 2016

Ex-Qaeda in Syria joins forces with radical group

Analysts say the announcement will complicate things for Fateh al-Sham Front [Getty]

The Syrian group Fateh al-Sham Front said on Sunday that it had taken the radical Salafist Jund al-Aqsa group, recently labelled a terrorist organisation by Washington, under its wing.

The announcement, on Fateh al-Sham Front's Twitter account, came as Jund al-Aqsa fighters are locked in fierce clashes with other rebel groups in northern Syria's Idlib province.

"In a bid to avoid shedding the blood of Muslims and overcome the internal fighting between us and Ahrar al-Sham, which only profits the regime, we, Jund al-Aqsa announce that we have pledged allegiance to Fateh al-Sham Front," said the online statement.

The statement was handwritten and bore the signatures of the heads of both groups.

The powerful Ahrar al-Sham group which has close ties to Fateh al-Sham Front has accused several members of Jund al-Asqa of links to the Islamic State group.

IS is the key rival of Fateh al-Sham Front, formerly known as al-Nusra Front and al-Qaeda's affiliate on the battlegrounds of Syria.

Analysts said that Sunday's announcement was expected to complicate things for Fateh al-Sham Front.