It remains to be seen if ISIL Emir Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi will obey Zawahiri’s orders and return to the Islamic State of Iraq (al-Qaeda’s official Iraqi affiliate).

Via Al Akbar:

Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri has ordered the disbanding of the main jihadi faction in Syria, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, in an audio message aired on al-Jazeera Friday.

The tape appears to confirm a letter put out by al-Jazeera in June, claimed to have been written by Zawahiri and addressed to the leaders of al-Qaeda factions in both countries. The head of al-Qaeda also stressed that the Al-Nusra Front was the branch of the global jihadi group in Syria.

“The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is to be abolished, while the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) remains functioning,” he said. Zawahiri said the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, “has made a mistake by establishing the Islamic state of Iraq and the Levant without asking for our permission, or even informing us.” It was not immediately clear when he made the remarks.

Meanwhile, Zawahiri added that the leader of the al-Nusra Front in Syria, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, “has made a mistake by announcing his rejection of the ISIL, without taking our permission, or even informing us.” He said the rule of ISI will be confined to Iraq, while the al-Nusra Front in Syria will be “an independent branch of al-Qaeda that reports to the general command.” Zawahiri also ordered the two branches to support each other whenever needed and possible.

Opposition activists have blamed the ISIL for an escalating abuse against Syrian rebels and civilians, including kidnappings and public executions in areas under the control of the extremist group.

Zawahiri chided Islamists from both sides for unauthorized attacks on Muslims.

“Both sides, and all the mujahedeen (Islamist fighters) should observe the sanctity of Muslims, in respecting their blood, families and property, and should not attack a Muslim without a court order,” he said.