PHOTO: Jabhat al-Nusra fighters with the jihadist banner atop a tank (File Photo)

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UPDATE 1800 GMT: Local sources offer further information on the fighting between the Free Syrian Army’s Division 13 and Jabhat al-Nusra in Maarat al-Num’an in Idlib Province.

The sources explain that, for two weeks, there have been “provocations” and “personal tensions” between some FSA members and Jabhat al-Nusra. Division 13 fighters raised the tension with raids on homes of Nusra fighters and attacks on Nusra offices, forcing a response by the jihadists.

Members of both Division 13 and al-Nusra, as well as other factions, have called for a de-escalation by transferring the conflict to the Sharia court.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: In the latest sign of tension between rebels and Jabhat al-Nusra, the jihadists have reportedly attacked Free Syrian Army units in Idlib Province in northwest Syria.

Activists said Jabhat al-Nusra and its ally Jund al-Aqsa launched the raids on Saturday in several locations in southern Idlib, following an attack on cars with Free Syrian Army officials.

There are unconfirmed reports of casualties on both sides.

Fighters from Jabhat al-Nusra have tried on the past two Fridays to disrupt renewed opposition protests in northwest Syria against the Assad regime.

The opposition-rebel bloc has maintained political distance from Jabhat al-Nusra. Efforts in the past year to distance the jihadists from their links with Al Qa’eda have been unsuccessful.

However, the groups have continued to co-operate on the battlefield against regime forces and foreign militias.

Jabhat al-Nusra is not covered by the February 27 cessation of hostilities brokered by the US and Russia. Last week its fighters and Jund al-Aqsa attacked pro-Assad foreign militias on the front south of Aleppo city.

A demonstration on Saturday night in opposition-held Maarat al-Num’an, calling on both sides to end the fighting:

Video: Ahrar al-Sham Responds in Hama Province to Regime Breaking of Ceasefire

A video by the rebel faction Ahrar al-Sham, with first-person views, of operations in response to regime attacks that broke the February 27 ceasefire:

Rebels Down Regime Warplane in Hama Province

Rebels shot down a regime warplane in Hama Province on Saturday.

Reports varies on whether the plane was struck by missiles or an anti-aircraft gun.

The rebel group Jaish al-Nasr said it shot down the jet fighter with anti-aircraft weapons near Kafr Naboudeh, which has been bombed repeatedly by Russian and regime warplanes.

Regime: No Discussion About Assad’s Future in Political Talks

The Assad regime said on Saturday that the President’s future cannot be part of political talks which are renewed tomorrow in Geneva.

Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told a press conference in Damascus that the regime will participate in the discussions, convened by UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, but said of Assad’s status:

The government delegation will reject any attempt to put this on the agenda.

We will not talk to anyone who talks about the position of the presidency….I advise them that if this is their thinking, they shouldn’t come to the talks.

Moallem rejected a statement by de Mistura that “new governance” will include an election under UN supervision: “Neither he [de Mistura] nor anyone else, whoever they may be, has the right to discuss presidential elections. This right is exclusively for the Syrian people.”

The opposition-rebel bloc has insisted that Assad must step aside as part of a political transition. Under Russian pressure, the US and European states have accepted that the President can remain during the transition, but say that he cannot be part of Syria’s future.

Russia has held open the possibility of Assad running for re-election, while his other major ally, Iran, has insisted that he cannot be forced out of office.

Foreign Minister al-Moallem said the talks will fail if the opposition had “delusions that they will take power in Geneva that they failed to take in battle”.

Opposition-rebel lead negotiator Mohammad Alloush said the comments were worthless:

We consider that the transitional period starts with the fall of Bashar al-Assad or his death. There’s no possibility to start this period with the presence of this regime or the head of this regime in the power.