Jabhat al-Nusra Gives Rival Jihadists an Ultimatum
The BBC reports that “the leader of the al-Qaida-affiliated rebel group in Syria has given rival jihadists an ultimatum to accept arbitration by clerics or be expelled.
“Abu Mohammed al-Julani of the al-Nusra Front warned the Islamic State of Iraq in the Levant (ISIS) that it would be driven from Syria and ‘even from Iraq’ if it did not comply within five days. The threat came after the killing of an al-Qaida emissary, Abu Khaled al-Suri. He had reportedly been sent to end the clashes between ISIS and other rebels.”
There was no responsibility claimed for al-Suri’s death, but “the Islamic Front, an alliance to which Ahrar al-Sham belongs, said the ‘fingers of blame’ pointed to ISIS.
“In an audio message produced by al-Nusra’s media arm and posted on jihadist websites on Tuesday, Abu Mohammed al-Julani said Suri had been a ‘man who solved problems, not one to create conflicts’ and that they had seen each other a few days before his death. We say to his killers: may your hands perish and your deed be damned. You, those who give you your orders, and those who write your fatwas are wretched, O deceived ones.’”
Turkish Foreign Minister Says World Has Failed Syria
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Syria’s war “now poses a danger to all countries because President Bashar al-Assad’s government had been allowed to continue its ‘crimes’ while jihadists from around the world flooded in to fight him.”
He told Reuters that “a robust international strategy including ‘real intelligence cooperation’ and withdrawal of all foreign fighters was needed to end the conflict and help millions of Syrians devastated by violence. The crisis was ‘a threat to all,’ he said in an interview, pointing to what he called the totalitarian nature of the Assad government and the presence of al Qaida-linked armed groups.
“He added that Damascus had in effect colluded with the militant rebel groups to fight moderate opposition factions. Syria has not responded to similar charges made in recent weeks and says it is leading international efforts against terrorism.”
A years-long internal debate over Turkish policy in Syria “is starting to boil up once more, as fears grow of blowback from Ankara’s support for Syrian rebels increasingly dominated by Islamist factions.”
Syrians to Replace Afghans as World’s Largest Refugee Population
The U.N. reports that Syrians are about to replace Afghans as the world’s largest refugee population. Five years ago, pre-conflict, Syria was the world’s second-biggest host refugee nation.
Reuters reports that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the General Assembly that the U.N. “would do everything to implement a U.N. Security Council resolution – adopted on Saturday to boost humanitarian aid access – and get help to millions in need.”
He said that “supplies are ready to go into areas that have been hard to reach, and into the towns and cities that have been under siege … What we need is guaranteed safe passage for humanitarian supplies along key routes. It is incumbent on the Syrian government and all parties to the conflict to reach these agreements.”
The wire says that “some 9.3 million Syrians – almost half the population – need help, the United Nations said. Some 2.4 million of those people have fled the country during the three-year civil war.”
Suggested Reads from Our Editorial Team
NY Times: With Syria, Diplomacy Needs Force
CNN: Al Qaeda Branch Issues Ultimatum to Splinter Group
Reuters: Hezbollah Says Will Respond to Israeli Air Strike
Reuters: Syria Aid Stalled After UN Resolution
AP: Germany Monitors Jihadis Battle-Hardened in Syria
Al Jazeera: Syrian Refugees Adapt to Jordan Legal System
AP: Army Ambushes al-Qaida Linked Rebels