Al Qaeda forms alliance to ‘liberate Damascus’

Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front on Tuesday said it and two other jihadist groups had formed the so-called Army of Fustat with the aim of “liberating Damascus from invaders and usurpers”, the Shaam website reported.

The Al-Nusra Front said it allied with the Ahrar al-Sham and Fajr al-Ummah factions to create the Army of Fustat in the rebel stronghold of Eastern Ghouta, east of Damascus.

“We put aside all methodological differences to unite the mujahadeen and muster energy and means to liberate Damascus”, the groups said a joint statement cited by Shaam, which is close to the Syrian Opposition.

The Al Qaeda-affiliate is preparing to launch a new offensive “within the next 48 hours” after Russia announced the withdrawal of its forces from the war-torn country, a jihadist commander said on Tuesday.

“It is clear that Russia has suffered defeat, and within the next 48 hours Al-Nusra will launch an offensive in Syria,” a commander of the group said via Skype.

“The Russians withdrew for one reason, and it is because while they were backing the regime, the regime was unable to hold onto the territories that it took over,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Moscow began its airstrikes in support of Mr Assad’s Army in September.