The leader of the Syrian Islamist rebel group Nusra Front said on Thursday (July 27) it was cutting its ties with al Qaeda to deny foreign powers including the United States and Russia a pretext to attack Syrians.
Listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States, the Nusra Front was excluded from a truce negotiated in February. Russia and the United States are discussing closer coordination to fight the militia.
The group's leader, Abu Mohamad al-Golani, made the announcement in a video that was the first public pronouncement to show his face.
"We declare the complete cancellation of all operations under the name of Jabhat Al-Nursa, and the formation of a new group operating under the name "Jabhat Fath Al-Sham," noting that this new organisation has no affiliation to any external entity," Golani said in the video.
The group's leader said the action would narrow differences with other rebel groups that are also fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Al Qaeda's leader, Ayman al Zawahri, had earlier given his blessing to Nusra Front to break organisational ties with the global jihadist organisation in the interest of preserving its unity and continuing its fight in Syria.
Golani thanked Zawahri for putting the interests of Muslims and the people of the Levant over organisational interests.