Again, do we really want to align ourselves with the Syrian rebels when factions like the al-Nusrah Front carry out some of their most spectacular attacks?
Via LWJ:
The Al Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, an al Qaeda-linked jihadist group in Syria, has claimed credit for numerous attacks, including four suicide bombings, against Syrian security forces, government officials, and a government-backed militia.
The Al Nusrah Front claimed credit for the attacks in 12 statements that were released by the Al Manara al Baydha’ Foundation for Media Production on jihadist web forums on June 30. The statements were translated by the SITE Intelligence Group.
The “soldiers of the Front” conducted scores of attacks throughout Syria, including in the cities of Damascus, Aleppo, Dier al Zor, and Idlib. The targets have included members of the government, police, military, intelligence, and the “shabiha” or the ghosts, President Bashir al Assad’s plain-clothed militia who have massacred thousands of Syrian civilians in brutal attacks. Also targeted were pro-government tribal leaders. The attacks consisted of suicide bombings, ambushes, assassinations, car bombings, and IED attacks.
The first suicide attack took place on June 7 in the Al Maysar neighborhood in Aleppo. Al Nusrah said the “martyrdom-seeking operation” struck a bus carrying “elements of the state security of the tyrannical oppressive regime who are called the ‘Brigade of Preserving Order.'” The suicide bomber detonated his vest on the bus, and “caused large damage in the soldiers of the tyrants.” Al Nusrah claimed that a “Captain from the Al-Sha’aar police section” was among those killed.
“We hope this operation will be followed by larger and more powerful and more effective operations,” Al Nusrah said.
In another suicide attack, which was not dated, a suicide bomber identified as Abu Nawras al-Janubi detonated his car bomb against the “Hirak barrier in Daraa.” Al Nusrah did not provide details of the result of the operation, but promised more suicide attacks.