Despite a supposed ceasefire in insurgent in-fighting — which undermined its successful offensive in northwest Syria this week — the Syrian Revolutionary Front is pressing ahead with its campaign against the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra.
See Syria Special: Amid Its Offensive in the Northwest, Why Are Insurgents Fighting Among Themselves?
The latest attacks are on the propaganda front: the SRF, which has been supported by US media since its inception in December 2013, uses McClatchy News Service to portray Jabhat al-Nusra as the villain in the fighting in Idlib Province.
Pushing aside the conflicting accounts of the cause — some local activists as well as Jabhat al-Nusra say the SRF started the fighting, even as it “sat on its hands” during the offensive against the regime in Idlib city — the SRF portrays itself as victim:
Al Qaida’s Syrian affiliate, the Nusra Front, which has long been viewed by that country’s rebels as an ally in the battle to topple President Bashar Assad, has turned on them in recent days, forcing the beleaguered rebels into a three-front war that they say they are sure to lose unless the United States changes policy and sends them more weapons.
Commanders warned Wednesday that assaults this week by Nusra could cause the collapse of rebel front lines, which already were under stress from fighting the Islamic State and the Assad government.
“We are defending our existence,” said Gen. Muhammad Hallak of the Syrian Revolutionary Front, one of the rebel groups. Without more assistance from the U.S.-led coalition battling the Islamic State, “we will withdraw our forces from the front with the Islamic State and the regime and work only to save ourselves.”
Commanders warned Wednesday that assaults this week by Nusra could cause the collapse of rebel front lines, which already were under stress from fighting the Islamic State and the Assad government.
“We are defending our existence,” said Gen. Muhammad Hallak of the Syrian Revolutionary Front, one of the rebel groups. Without more assistance from the U.S.-led coalition battling the Islamic State, “we will withdraw our forces from the front with the Islamic State and the regime and work only to save ourselves.”
Meanwhile, the SRF’s leader, Jamal al-Maarouf, has launched a foul-mouthed video tirade against Jabhat al-Nusra and its leader Abu Mohammad al-Golani:
Calling al-Golani a Kharijite [deviant Muslim], Maarouf says that the SRF fights for Syria in the way of God while Jabhat al-Nusra fights for Iran.
Maarouf continues, “Why are you fighting us? Go fight the regime. Go fight in the Morek front [the town in Hama Province captured by the regime this month], go fight in Aleppo.”
The SRF leader then says Golani is “exactly like” the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He promises that the SRF will liberate towns in Idlib Province from “Jabhat al-Kusra” — a play on its name which invokes both a vulgar term and the Arabic for “broken”.
After swearing at Jabhat al-Nusra some more, he says, “You are working for Assad’s victory.”
