Growing Threat Of Radical Rebels Infiltrating Ranks Of Syrian Rebels
For a long time Britain and France have been hawkish about military aid to the Syrian civil war, but with the growing concern about the role of Al-Qaeda in Syria and in Iraq they are starting to back pedal, Middle East expert Edmund Ghareeb told RT.
In northeast Syria - Al-Qaeda-linked extremists are holding about 200 Kurdish civilians hostage, using them as human shields, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Kurds living in the area have been trying to protect their homes, amid heavy fighting between jihadist forces and Syrian government troops.
RT: The lives of innocent Kurdish civilians are now in danger from Al-Qaeda terrorists. What do you think the hostage takers want and why would they be targeting the Kurds?
Edmund Ghareeb: Primarily, there has been a struggle between the Kurds and the Jabhat Al-Nusra and the Islamic state in Iraq and Levant over the control of that area, especially since it borders the Turkish region and the Turkish state. This is an important area for the Syrian armed opposition to continue to receive support and aid, and at the same time extend its control and its influence in this area, which is mainly inhabited by Kurds as well as minorities. There are some Arab tribes also in the area. There are some Syrian Christians who are living in this area. In a way it’s a struggle for control in this region between the two groups: Kurdish Democratic and Unionist Party and the Nusra front and its allies Ahrar al-Sham.
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http://rt.com/op-edge/syria-rebels-civil-war-525/
