SNC seeks cooperation with leading Islamist factions

Source: 
NOW.
Publication date: 
Jun 04 2015

The Western-backed opposition wants to include Ahrar al-Sham, Army of Islam and other Islamists within its military ranks.

BEIRUT – The Western-backed Syrian National Coalition is looking to include influential Islamist factions within the ranks of a new unified military structure, a coalition member says. 

The move to restructure the military command comes after SNC chief Khaled Khoja on Tuesday dissolved the Supreme Military Council that ostensibly oversees the FSA.

Saudi-owned Asharq Alawsat reported Thursday that preliminary discussions have begun among Syrian opposition leaders to create a new unified military command within a month.

Abu Ahmed al-Assimi, a member of the now-dissolved SMC, told the daily there was “a plan to represent [groups] that were not previously represented like Ahrar al-Sham,” which he described as “one of the most effective factions in the north.”

“Discussions with them to agree on their representation are underway and I welcome their representation,” the rebel official said.

Ahrar al-Sham, which is allied to the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front, is one of the largest fighting groups in Syria, having played a key role in the Army of Conquest coalition that seized the Idlib Province last week following months of sweeping victories.

The Army of Conquest, which is led by Nusra and Islamist battalions, has been aided by FSA-affiliated units in fighting in northwestern Syria.

Assimi also told the paper that the Army of Islam, the largest rebel faction in the Damascus area, should be included in the new SNC military command.

His comment comes after Army of Islam chief Zahran Alloush visited Istanbul in late April amid growing reports of behind-the-scenes efforts by Turkey, Qatar and other anti-Assad states to unify rebel ranks. 

In recent weeks, regional powers opposed to Damascus have moved to coordinate their efforts against the Assad regime, after years of divisions between Saudi Arabia and Qatar have reflected themselves in splits between rebels in Syria.

The former SMC official also named the Islamist Harakat al-Mujahedeen, Sham Legion, Islamic Front and Ajnad al-Sham as potential partners.

However, Asharq Alawsat reported, opposition leaders do not believe that the Al-Nusra Front will be included in the new formation, unless it renounced its ties with Al-Qaeda.

Assimi told the paper the new council will be announced within a month, in keeping with the decree to dissolve the current body.