Syria FSA militants declare war on al-Qaeda linked ISIL

Iran Press TV

Sat Sep 28, 2013 6:30PM GMT

Foreign-backed militants of the Storm of the North Brigade belonging to the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) have declared war on the al-Qaeda affiliated militant group, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).

The announcement by the FSA unit came after militants from the ISIL stormed the town of Azaz, 5 km from the Syrian-Turkish border on September 18, and killed at least five FSA members.

The fighting was the most severe since tensions mounted earlier this year between the rebel factions fighting against President Bashar al-Assad government.

On September 25, thirteen foreign-backed militant groups in Syria announced they do not recognize the authority of the so-called Syrian National Coalition.

The groups include the so-called Free Syrian Army and al-Qaeda-linked Takfiri groups such as the Al-Nusra Front, Liwa al-Tawhid, and Ahrar al-Sham.

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since March 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.

According to the UN, more than 100,000 people have been killed and a total of 7.8 million of others displaced due to the violence.

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