Syrian opposition condemns jihadist attacks on rebels

Syria’s opposition National Coalition on Friday condemned attacks by al-Qaeda affiliates on rebels of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

The coalition said recent violence carried out by loyalists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) on the FSA was entirely reprehensible.

“The Coalition condemns the aggressions against the forces of the Syrian revolution and the repeated disregard for the lives of Syrians, and considers that this behavior runs contrary to the Syrian revolution and the principles it is striving to achieve,” a statement said.

Moreover, the group highlighted the recent ISIS seizure of the town of Azaz on the border with Turkey on Wednesday as an example of such attacks and denounced an hours-long firefight with FSA fighters and its attempt to take control of the Bab as-Salameh border crossing.

Azaz was one of the first towns to be overrun, in July 2012, by FSA rebels, who set up their own administration.

Tensions between some opposition groups and ISIS have spiraled in recent months, especially in northern Syria, where the opposition controls vast swathes of territory.

(With AFP)