Nusra opposes ceasefire, calls for escalation in fighting
The al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra wants, according to Reuters, to escalate fighting ahead of the scheduled "cessation of hostilities" which the U.S. and Russia agreed to earlier this week.
The leader of Nusra, Abu Mohamad al-Golani, released an audio message on Orient News TV where he called on the groups militants to "strengthen your resolve and intensify your strikes, and do not let their planes and great numbers [of soldiers] scare you."
Nusra is not included in the ceasefire along with its enemy Islamic State (ISIS). Russia has said it will continue bombing both leading other groups to fear it will simply keep bombing those opposed to President Bashar al-Assad while claiming it is merely targeting Nusra.
Additionally Nusra has a large presence in many opposition-held areas meaning that if they escalate fighting the Russians can feasibly hit other opposition groups while targeting Nusra.
Syrian state media reported that Nusra fired rockets into the residential areas of the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday killing at least one person.
The leader of Nusra, Abu Mohamad al-Golani, released an audio message on Orient News TV where he called on the groups militants to "strengthen your resolve and intensify your strikes, and do not let their planes and great numbers [of soldiers] scare you."
Nusra is not included in the ceasefire along with its enemy Islamic State (ISIS). Russia has said it will continue bombing both leading other groups to fear it will simply keep bombing those opposed to President Bashar al-Assad while claiming it is merely targeting Nusra.
Additionally Nusra has a large presence in many opposition-held areas meaning that if they escalate fighting the Russians can feasibly hit other opposition groups while targeting Nusra.
Syrian state media reported that Nusra fired rockets into the residential areas of the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday killing at least one person.