Al Qaeda kills Free Syrian Army commander: FSA spokesman

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

BEIRUT | Thu Jul 11, 2013 4:52pm EDT

(Reuters) - Militants linked to al Qaeda in Syria killed a senior figure in the Western- and Arab-backed Free Syrian army on Thursday, an FSA source said, signaling a widening rift between Islamists and more moderate elements in the armed Syrian opposition.

Kamal Hamami, a member of the Free Syrian Army's Supreme Military Council, known by his nom de guerre Abu Bassel al-Ladkani, was meeting with members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in the port city of Latakia when they killed him, Qassem Saadeddine, a Free Syrian Army spokesman, told Reuters.

"The Islamic State phoned me saying that they killed Abu Bassel and that they will kill all of the Supreme Military Council," Saadeddine said from Syria.

"He met them to discuss battle plans," Saadeddine added.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/11/us-syria-crisis-commander-idUSBRE96A10620130711

[Sand Wind]

1. The Islamic State are f..... Crazies.

Not to confuse with the Jabhat al-Nusra. The State is full of psychopathes, they are not appreciate by the citizens and the others insurgent's fronts.

And the problem is that they perfectly understand that in the end, the FSA will have no choice than to get rid of them, in a way or another.

Well, now they made the first move of the tango who is coming.

[Igel]

2. One could argue that they are quick learners.

In Egypt they saw that the secular opposition was more than happy to work with the MB to dispose of Mubarak--but as soon as there was any chance that the MB might actually wind up with the lion's share of power they decided to deny cooperation. Finally the secular opposition sided with Mubarakists (can I say that?) against the Islamists.

Why wait for the inevitable in Syria. Assume victory and proceed with the purge before Assad is actually vanquished and you are purged.

Or perhaps they're just crazy. Either works for me.

[Sand Wind]

4. Yes you are right, probably both .

[Alamuti Lotus]

6. how much would you say that the ISI has insinuated itself into current events?

A few months back, Amir al-Baghdadi tried to take credit for the popularity of an-Nusrah by insinuating that the Syrian front was an offshoot of theirs (which would explain the virulently anti-Shiite tendencies of the takfiri armed formations), but the declaration of union was rejected by the prominent takfiri gang leaders and, if I remember correctly, in a ruling by Sheikh Zawahiri himself. Rather than being a flat rejection, however, the move seemed to have split the Nusrah front, with multiple factions carrying out operations and making statements on behalf of the movement as a whole. How much influence do you think that the Iraqi branch wields over present events? There seems to be an inherently schismatic tendency underscoring many of Nusrah's activities (which is the takfiri way, I suppose), but also as if it had multiple personalities in terms of its relationship with the other illegal armed formations, particularly the mercenary "Free Syrian Army" gangs--the recent in-fighting in particular.

[Sand Wind]

8. ISI uniletarately decide that everyone in the region will be under is leadership.

Al Nusrah rejecte their statement and appeal higher leader on the question. Zwahiri make a statement that said Al Nusrah was right.

-that's look so much like the story of the Ba'ath party...

But yes, after that, since iSI had better weapons, 5000 fighters from the Al Nusrah pass to the ISI. That's about half.

But the problem with the ISI is they are opportunist players, they do not fight in problematic's front, and just take place where everything is easy. And then, they are not appreciate by the local citizens.

So the Nusrah Front make a big comeback recently, because they take on themself to take new grounds to the Assad Thugs in Aleppo and others. Also they prove to the local that they can make great management.

Also, the Golf Powers succeed in getting around the US arms embargo and provide them great new and powerful weapon, so some opportunist comeback from the ISI.

I suspect that the ISI is a little panicking at the moment, and pointing to a more extremist approach.

[Sand Wind]

9. One good map of the ISI in Syria :

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=555639814472910&set=a.224155897621305.50803.217139528322942&type=1&theater

[David__77]

3. Family feud.

Still, they are family. Turf wars are common among gang members.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. And the rebels are getting their asses handed to them in Homs.

Doesn't bode well for the Syrian revolution.

[Ford_Prefect]

7. Looks much like Lebanon in the bad old days. A gang on every other corner in Beirut.

Each with their own "friends" outside Lebanon with agendas and guns to sell. Syria is now the staging ground for Zealots, gangsters and, oh yes, Assad's new best friends and shock troops. It is little different than Central Africa a few years ago - minus the blood diamonds.

The sad thing is the conflict will consume the majority population who would rather stay home than choose a side to get slaughtered by.

Yes Assad is cruel, Yes he should go, but to be replaced by murderous thugs each with their own version of the Koran to swear by?
...AND we are giving them weapons to murder with?

How is that better for ordinary Syrian people?