ISIS And al-Qaeda Considering A Truce, What Does It Mean For America If The Two Groups Join Forces?
ISIS and al-Qaeda may be considering a truce. If reports that Qatar, a member of President Obama’s coalition to thwart Islamic State militants, is truly brokering such an agreement, could terrorism threats against America increase?
Qatar is allegedly working behind the scenes to secure a truce between ISIS and the al-Qaeda group known as the al-Nusra Front, according to senior Egyptian intelligence officials. The al-Nusra Front is also involved in the fighting going on in Syria. If intelligence reports are accurate, ISIS and al-Nusra are considering joining forces to fight the United States-led coalition in both Iraq and Syria.
In addition to Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates are also members of President Obama’s Gulf Cooperation Council. Although Egypt is also a member of the group, intelligence sources said the country will not be involved in targeting ISIS directly.
The al-Nusra Front is also known as Jabhat al-Nusra, Tanzim Qa-edat Al-Jihadi fi Bilad Al-Shamor or simply as al-Qaeda in Syria. The group is known to operate in both Lebanon and Syria. An announcement about the creation of the group was released on January 23, 2012, during the ongoing Syrian civil war fighting. The al-Qaeda group has been called referred to as “one of the most effective rebel forces” in Syria and as being both “aggressive” and “successful.”
al-Nusra is designated as a terrorist organization in America, Australia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and by the United Nations. The group ISIS is allegedly considering joining forces with is largely comprised of Sunni Islamist mujahideen. The al-Nusra Front has reportedly vowed to overthrow Basha al-Assad and then create a Pan-Islamic state under Sharia law and ultimately a Caliphate.
Earlier this year, Dr. Sami Al Oraidi, a top Sharia leader in al-Nusra, said his group is “influenced” by the teachings of Abu Musab al-Suri. The teachings reportedly revolved around guidelines which mandate, “providing services to people, avoid being seen as extremists, maintaining strong relationships with communities and other fighting groups, and putting the focus on fighting the regime.”
New York Times reporter C.J. Chivers said some diplomats and analysts believe that the al-Nusra Front and ISIS may appear “less focused” on toppling the Bashar al-Assad regime than on the creation of a “zone of influence” in Iraq and Syria that ultimately become an Islamic territory under their authority. Members of the al-Qaeda group have stated that both Israel and the United States are “enemies of Islam” and warned America not to intervene in Syria.
What do you think about an ISIS truce with the al-Qadea group known as the al-Nusra Front?
[Image via porisrael.org]
