Rebels battle al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters across northern Syria
By Liz Sly, WashPost, Published: January 4 | Updated: Sunday, January 5, 1:17 AM
BEIRUT — Syrian rebels battled al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters across northern Syria on Saturday in an attempt to stem the sudden rise in influence of the extremists who have been staging attacks and conquering territory from Baghdad to Beirut.
At the same time, Iraqi government forces fought to contain an expanding revolt in the western province of Anbar by Sunni tribes, some of which have linked up with al-Qaeda militants to score significant gains in recent days.
The battles on both sides of the border signaled a defining moment for the increasingly entwined conflicts in Iraq and Syria, which have enabled the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to emerge as one of the region’s most powerful players.
On Saturday, Iraqi government troops fired shells into the city of Fallujah, which was overrun by al-Qaeda fighters this past week. At least seven civilians were killed, according to residents, but the government made no apparent headway against the insurgents, who are fighting with tribesmen in a broad revolt against the Shiite-dominated government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
(More here.)
BEIRUT — Syrian rebels battled al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters across northern Syria on Saturday in an attempt to stem the sudden rise in influence of the extremists who have been staging attacks and conquering territory from Baghdad to Beirut.
At the same time, Iraqi government forces fought to contain an expanding revolt in the western province of Anbar by Sunni tribes, some of which have linked up with al-Qaeda militants to score significant gains in recent days.
The battles on both sides of the border signaled a defining moment for the increasingly entwined conflicts in Iraq and Syria, which have enabled the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to emerge as one of the region’s most powerful players.
On Saturday, Iraqi government troops fired shells into the city of Fallujah, which was overrun by al-Qaeda fighters this past week. At least seven civilians were killed, according to residents, but the government made no apparent headway against the insurgents, who are fighting with tribesmen in a broad revolt against the Shiite-dominated government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
(More here.)
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