Al Qaeda splinter group leaves Syrian oil-rich provinceFebruary 10, 2014 - 14:46 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An al Qaeda splinter group has withdrawn its forces from Syria's oil-rich eastern province of Deir al-Zor, activists and rebels said on Monday, Feb 10, after days of heavy fighting with its rivals, according to Reuters. Rebel groups, including al Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the Nusra Front, have been battling the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) for control of towns and oilfields in the area, sparking a spate of car bombs in the province. "The ISIL fighters have almost completely withdrawn from Deir al-Zor. The fighters are moving to Hassaka and Raqqa (provinces)," said a source from the Nusra Front, who asked not to be named. Raqqa remains the stronghold of ISIL. Pro-ISIL activists on Twitter said the group had withdrawn from Deir al-Zor to prevent further bloodshed. Several rebel groups launched a campaign last month to try to push ISIL forces, their former allies, out of opposition-held regions in northern and eastern Syria. Islamist opposition groups joined forces with some secular rebel units to fight ISIL, with whom they have territorial disputes and ideological differences. ISIL, which has attracted many foreign Islamist militants into its ranks, is a small but powerful fighting force in Syria's opposition areas. It has alienated many civilians and opposition activists, however, by imposing harsh rulings against dissent in areas it controls, such as beheadings. Over a month of clashes killed more than 2,300 rebels, making it the bloodiest episode of infighting in Syria's nearly three-year conflict. ISIL is the rebranding of al Qaeda's affiliate in neighboring Iraq, but it defied the central leadership's requests to limit itself to fighting there instead of Syria. Al Qaeda's central leadership formally announced a split with ISIL earlier in February. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition monitoring group, said Deir al-Zor was now in the hands of Nusra fighters as well as 10 other rebel groups. "There were heavy clashes. ISIL asked for mediation but the Nusra Front rejected that, so it pulled out," it said, according to Reuters. Some activists said one of ISIL's Deir al-Zor leaders, known as Abu Ther al-Iraqi, was also detained by rebels on Monday. Efforts to mediate between ISIL and other rebel groups, even Islamist forces with similar religious views, have failed. Unlike other Islamist groups such as Nusra, which follow similar austere interpretations of Islam, ISIL was trying to set up an Islamic caliphate in territory it seized in Iraq and Syria. Other Syrian rebel forces want to topple Assad and then determine a ruling system for Syria, though many want an Islamic government. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |