ODFS Director condemns recent statement by Al-Qaeda leader

Syrian civil war has become three-way conflict, says al-Qaeda's leader

Telegraph

JUNE 6, 2013

In a newly-released audio message posted on Islamist websites, Zawahiri said: "Unite, listen and agree that you shall not lay down your arms and leave your trenches until the establishment in the Levant of an Islamic state that will restore the caliphate.

"The United States, it associates and allies want you to sacrifice your blood ... to bring down the criminal Alawite regime and install a government in its pay and to preserve Israel's security," he said in the message posted on Islamist websites on Thursday.

"The jihad in the Levant should work to establish a combatant Islamic caliphate that continues to make sacrifices ... until the banner of jihad and Islam is hoisted."

It was not immediately possible to verify the recording, which made no reference to victory on Wednesday of Assad forces in the besieged town of Qusayr, suggesting it was recorded before the campaign to retake the town began more than two weeks ago.

Zawahiri succeeded Osama bin Laden as leader of the terrorist organisation, after the US raid to kill bin Laden at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in May 2011.

Zawahiri warned Syrians not to play into the hands of the United States which, he said, wanted to turn their Jihad into a "Western tool against Iran".

Zawahri also said the only way to solve the Palestinian problem was through Jihad. "There is no solution for Palestine except Jihad," he said.

"Every free Muslim in Palestine should unite with his Muslim brothers to implement Sharia (Islamic law) and rule by it, and make it a reference above all references, and to liberate Palestine in order to set up an Islamic state, even if the West hates that and calls it terrorism and extremism," he added.

Zawahri's last audio message was in April, when he also urged Muslims to unite and support Jihad to create a state governed by Islamic law.

Responding to the news, Director of ODFS, Ribal Al-Assad said:

“It is high time that the international community recognises that this is the rhetoric behind the Islamist rebels who are the overwhelming majority of the rebels' forces. We need to be very clear on this, the threat posed by the Islamist rebels is real and poses a serious risk to the future of Syria and the region as a whole, especially if they are given recourse to more arms.

The only way forward is through dialogue with parties who subscribe to the principles of democracy, peace and freedom. There is no room whatsoever for extremist or radical ideologies – all this will do is create more extremism and terrorism not only in the region but all over the world.”