FSA and Al-Nusra split.

Several Syrian rebel groups including a powerful al Qaeda-linked faction have broken away from the Western-backed opposition coalition - as UN inspectors return to continue their probe into chemical weapons attacks.

In a joint statement, 13 rebel groups led by the Nusra Front criticised the Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition, saying it no longer represents their interests.

The statement reflects the lack of unity in the exiled political opposition and the rebel groups fighting President Bashar al Assad's regime.

The rebel groups' statement called on all those trying to topple Assad's government to unite under a "clear Islamic framework" - an apparent reference to the al Qaeda faction's aspirations to create an Islamic state in Syria.

Sky News

This is incredibly interesting and probably one of the biggest moves in Syria for a while.

Its a clear indication that the the Al-Qa'ida affiliated groups, led by Al-Nusra have totally split from the the Syrian National Council and the FSA. There has long been tension with in the fragile alliance between the various radical ismaist groups and the more secular SNC and FSA.

This split essentially creates a three way Civil war and it will be deeply worrying for the west, if Assad falls the power vacuum that remains will be filled either by the SNC who the West are supporting or by the extremists in Al-Nusra creating the worst possible outcome for the West; Syria turning into another Afghanistan.

Perfect plan !!!

Just what they want us to 'think'.

IMO, I don't believe it.

This is no suprise. They have barely been getting along as it is. Clashes between to the two groups kept happening and getting swept under the rug until the US aid started flowing to the rebels forcing Al-Nusra and company to take it into open warfare now before the rebels get to powerful and build up on the aid. What can you do. They knew they would end fighting each other but, they were planning on doing it after Assad fell. That way the rebels would be weakened. The Western aid ruined that so the radicals have to make their move now or get crushed later. Those of us who know Syria have saying this was going to happen sooner or later.

I would more likely beleive that the CIA told the FSA Rebels to split from the Al-Qaeda linked factions if they want any contuing ongoing military support from the West.

The fact that the FSA was linked to jihadi groups wrote off any credibility that Obama had to support them.

This is something that should have happened behind the scenes before the war/uprising started.

It clearly shows incompetence by both Obama and the CIA for not planning things better and shows clearly a "plan as you go" approach to the conflict.

And seriously, everyone could have seen sooner or later that the Jihadi groups will want the place for themselves to work towards their Caliphate goals.

3 way civil war.......sounds alot like Bosnia.

Melbourne_Militia
I would more likely beleive that the CIA told the FSA Rebels to split from the Al-Qaeda linked factions if they want any contuing ongoing military support from the West.

The fact that the FSA was linked to jihadi groups wrote off any credibility that Obama had to support them.

This is something that should have happened behind the scenes before the war/uprising started.

It clearly shows incompetence by both Obama and the CIA for not planning things better and shows clearly a "plan as you go" approach to the conflict.

And seriously, everyone could have seen sooner or later that the Jihadi groups will want the place for themselves to work towards their Caliphate goals.

3 way civil war.......sounds alot like Bosnia.

You can not plan for a civil war you do not know is coming. Their has always been tension between the two groups and they have clashed at times. They managed to keep a lid on it until a few weeks ago because it was i the best interest of both groups. However when western aid began to flow to the rebels the radicals no longer saw the peace as in their interest because the rebels would be to powerful to take down later. As in any conflict your plan has to be fluid or you will find nothing but failure.

reply to post by Melbourne_Militia

I would more likely beleive that the CIA told the FSA Rebels to split from the Al-Qaeda linked factions if they want any contuing ongoing military support from the West.

Really because it is the likes of the Al-Nusra front and the other radical islamist groups that rally behind them that have split with the SNC and FSA, its not that the FSA have split from them its the other way around so your highly speculative post makes no sense.

It clearly shows incompetence by both Obama and the CIA for not planning things better and shows clearly a "plan as you go" approach to the conflict.

Actually the opposite is almost true, a huge push behind American foriegn policy regarding Syria has been to prevent the likes of Al-Nusra filling any power vacuum left behind if Assad falls and turning Syria into a new Afghanistan.