Highlight
Jihadist groups in Syria have formed a joint alliance to counter ongoing Russian airstrikes on militant targets in the country.
Summary
The three, Al Nusrah Front, Ahrar al Sham and Ajnad al Sham now call themselves the Jund al Malahim. The alliance is eager to combat the Syrian regime and Russian forces. It is the latest alliance in a series of jihadist-led coalitions formed by Al Nusrah, an official branch of al Qaeda, and Ahrar al Sham, which is linked to al Qaeda.
Jund al Malahim claims that they will fight any group that sides with Syrian President Bashar al Assad, citing the latest enemy the joint group has created in Russia.
Possible is the fact that Russia’s involvement in Syria has led to formation of a joint faction of rebel group with an aim to stagnate the ongoing operations against militants in Iraq and Syria. The US had earlier warned that Russia’s involvement in the Syrian crisis could possibly fester the ongoing offensives.
One of the biggest rebel groups, the Jaysh al Islam has notably shunned from the alliance, stimulating a possible bigger shift within the militant groups that would mark a strategic plus on the offensives against the militants.
