Syrian Rebel Group Pledges Loyalty To al-Qaida [View all]

[Purveyor]

Source: REUTERS

As the situation in Syria continues to remain unstable, the Islamist rebel group al-Nusra has officially proclaimed its allegiance to al-Qaida via an audio tape posted online on Wednesday.

In the tape, the group's leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani said, "the sons of Nusra Front renew their pledge (of allegiance) to the Sheikh of Jihad Ayman al-Zawahri and declare obedience."

This statement comes only two days after al-Zawahri released his own audio tape calling on Syrian rebel groups to establish an Islamist state if they succeed in dispelling under-siege President Bashar Ashad.

While the group pledged it's allegiance to al-Qaida, they distanced themselves from an Iraqi group called the Islamic State of Iraq who yesterday announced the unification of the two groups.

Read more: http://www.jpost.com/Syria-Crisis/Syrian-Rebel-group-pledges-loyalty-to-al-Qaida-309360