Nusra Leader Says Conflict ‘Nearing End’

In his first media interview, Jabhat al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammed al-Joulani told Al Jazeera that the Syrian conflict was nearing its end.

“The battle is almost over … we will achieve victory soon. We pray to God to culminate these efforts with victory. It’s only a matter of days,” he told reporter Tayseer Allouni, conducting the interview in an undisclosed location in Syria. Jabhat al-Nusra is a designated terrorist organization in the West, yet highly influential in Syria on account of its success on the battlefield.

Al-Joulani said that he rejected the international peace talks known as “Geneva II,” scheduled for January. He also said his group is working to bring Sunni religious rule over Syria, portraying the fight in starkly sectarian terms.

Russia Tells Assad to Stay Silent on Re-Election

Reuters reports that a Russian diplomat signaled on Thursday that Bashar al-Assad “should refrain from statements suggesting he might seek re-election because it could fuel tension” before next month’s planned peace talks in Switzerland.

“The remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to Interfax news agency appeared to be a rare public criticism of Assad by Moscow.

“Assad told Syria’s Al Mayadeen television in October that he had no intention of quitting, despite pressure to do so from the United States and rebels fighting government forces. He also saw no obstacles to being nominated for a new term,” the wire says.

“Such rhetorical statements affect the atmosphere and do not make the situation any calmer,” Bogdanov was quoted as saying.

Amnesty Accuses al-Qaida Group in Syria of Torture

Global rights watchdog Amnesty International has released a report today accusing ISIS, al-Qaida’s Syrian arm, of “running secret prisons in which torture and summary killings are common.”

The AP reports that Amnesty said ISIS “ruthlessly flouted the rights of local people” and that the findings “were based on interviews with former detainees.

“The Islamic rebel group has along with more moderate opposition fighters over the past two years seized much territory in the north from President Bashar al-Assad’s forces. Amnesty says the ISIS runs seven detention facilities in Syria’s Aleppo and Raqqa provinces, often holding people for challenging its rule, petty crimes like theft or for committing purported ‘crimes against Islam’ such as smoking cigarettes.”

Suggested Reads from Our Editorial Team:

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NY Times: Drawn into The Tangle of Syria’s War

Washington Post: U.N. Finds Systematic Disappearances in Syria

AFP: Syria Extends Air Campaign on Aleppo Region

NPR: Thousands of Children Become Victim of Syria’s Civil War

Al Arabiya: UN Approves Resolution on Syria Violations

NY Times: Report Detail Could Further Implicate Syria in Chemical Attacks, Analysts Say