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Qaeda Offshoot Vows Retaliation for Strikes in Syria Nusra Front Vows Retaliation for Strikes in Syria
(about 2 hours later)
BEIRUT, Lebanon — The leader of the Nusra Front, a Syrian rebel group affiliated with Al Qaeda, vowed Sunday to retaliate against the United States for its airstrikes in Syria, a shift for a group that had kept its focus on ousting President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and fighting his ally Hezbollah.BEIRUT, Lebanon — The leader of the Nusra Front, a Syrian rebel group affiliated with Al Qaeda, vowed Sunday to retaliate against the United States for its airstrikes in Syria, a shift for a group that had kept its focus on ousting President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and fighting his ally Hezbollah.
“America will stand on the edge of a volcano in Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt after the interference in the area,” the leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, said in a speech posted on YouTube that amounted in tone to a declaration of war.“America will stand on the edge of a volcano in Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt after the interference in the area,” the leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, said in a speech posted on YouTube that amounted in tone to a declaration of war.
“O, people of America, Muslims will not stand watching their children bombed and killed and you staying safe in your homes,” he continued.“O, people of America, Muslims will not stand watching their children bombed and killed and you staying safe in your homes,” he continued.
There is no known evidence that the Nusra Front has the ability to strike in the United States, but the group has shown it can strike outside Syria, in Lebanon, where it could try to attack American interests.There is no known evidence that the Nusra Front has the ability to strike in the United States, but the group has shown it can strike outside Syria, in Lebanon, where it could try to attack American interests.
Last week as the United States began airstrikes in Syria that President Obama says aim to destroy the Islamic State militant group, American warplanes also attacked an unrelated cell of veterans of Al Qaeda called Khorasan. The group was little known previously and may have some overlap with the Nusra Front.Last week as the United States began airstrikes in Syria that President Obama says aim to destroy the Islamic State militant group, American warplanes also attacked an unrelated cell of veterans of Al Qaeda called Khorasan. The group was little known previously and may have some overlap with the Nusra Front.
Syrian opposition activists and residents say the American attacks also hit Nusra, killing several civilians.Syrian opposition activists and residents say the American attacks also hit Nusra, killing several civilians.
The expanded strikes, deep in territory not held by the Islamic State, surprised many in the region, including diplomats, Syrian opposition activists and Syrian insurgents that the United States hopes to make allies in its fight. Those insurgents cooperate with the Nusra Front in some operations; it is generally more widely accepted than is the Islamic State because it is seen as focused on ousting Mr. Assad. Meanwhile, the Islamic State has prioritized building a caliphate in areas it controls.The expanded strikes, deep in territory not held by the Islamic State, surprised many in the region, including diplomats, Syrian opposition activists and Syrian insurgents that the United States hopes to make allies in its fight. Those insurgents cooperate with the Nusra Front in some operations; it is generally more widely accepted than is the Islamic State because it is seen as focused on ousting Mr. Assad. Meanwhile, the Islamic State has prioritized building a caliphate in areas it controls.
Syrians in opposition areas long bombarded by their government were already suspicious of American intentions. Strikes on Nusra seemed to them to confirm that the United States was not interested in ousting Mr. Assad, and set off protests around opposition-held areas as well as objections from several rebel groups that get American financing.Syrians in opposition areas long bombarded by their government were already suspicious of American intentions. Strikes on Nusra seemed to them to confirm that the United States was not interested in ousting Mr. Assad, and set off protests around opposition-held areas as well as objections from several rebel groups that get American financing.
Mr. Jolani sought to tap into that sentiment. Praising people’s “patience and power against the gang of Bashar Assad,” he said, “The crusader coalition has come to steal your victories against the regime and bring you back to the patronage of Bashar, but you know the right way to get rid of slavery.”Mr. Jolani sought to tap into that sentiment. Praising people’s “patience and power against the gang of Bashar Assad,” he said, “The crusader coalition has come to steal your victories against the regime and bring you back to the patronage of Bashar, but you know the right way to get rid of slavery.”
He urged, “Take a stand against the coalition and the governments that are with them.”He urged, “Take a stand against the coalition and the governments that are with them.”
Mr. Jolani said that even rebels who had been attacked by the Islamic State in the past should not side with America against it. And he also appeared to call for attacks on Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia that has fought alongside Mr. Assad, saying the Lebanese should “eliminate the party of Satan.”Mr. Jolani said that even rebels who had been attacked by the Islamic State in the past should not side with America against it. And he also appeared to call for attacks on Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia that has fought alongside Mr. Assad, saying the Lebanese should “eliminate the party of Satan.”