Name: [VIDEO] Nusra Front renames itself Jabhat Fatah al-Sham
Uploaded: 2016-07-28T16:08:13+00:00
Description: Nusra Front has renamed itself Jabhat Fatah al Sham so that

2^min

Nusra Front has renamed itself Jabhat Fatah al Sham so that the international community, the United States and Russia can no longer use the pretext of its affiliation with al Qaeda to attack Syrians, the group's leader, Abu Mohamad al-Golani said.

Listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States, Nusra Front was excluded from Syria's February cessation of hostilities truce. Russia and the United States are also discussing closer coordination to target the group.

The U.S. State Department said on Thursday that Nusra Front militants remained a fair target for U.S. and Russian warplanes in Syria despite a decision to cut ties with al Qaeda and change its name to Jabhat Fatah al Sham.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said the Nusra Front's announcement could simply be a rebranding exercise and the United States would judge it by its actions, goals and ideology.

Kirby also said the Russian and Syrian humanitarian exercise around Aleppo on Thursday appeared to actually be an attempt to force the evacuation of civilians and the surrender of militant groups.

REUTERS

[VIDEO] Nusra Front renames itself Jabhat Fatah al-Sham

Breaking Headlines

Nusra

Syria