What Does Al-Nusra's 'Rebranding' And Break From Al Qaeda Mean

Screen grab of al-Nusra Front leader Abu Mohammad al-Golani from a video statement announcing his group's split from al Qaeda. AFP

The Hill: Pentagon will strike rebranded Nusra Front after split from al Qaeda

The Pentagon is planning to strike Islamist group formerly known as Jabhat al Nusra, or the Nusra Front, even though it has split from al Qaeda, its parent organization, a spokesman said Friday.

“It remains a terrorist target as it has been for some time,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook told reporters during a briefing.

The group, now called Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, officially split from al Qaeda earlier this week in what some experts say is an attempt to avoid being targeted by the U.S.-led military coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, as well as other terrorist groups. A potential deal between the U.S. and Russia would also see Russian airstrikes targeting Jabhat al Nusra.

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More News On What Does Al-Nusra's 'Rebranding' And Break From Al Qaeda Means

Syrian Nusra Front announces split from al-Qaeda -- BBC
Syrian Nusra Front announces split from al-Qaeda -- AFP
Al-Nusra’s break from al-Qaeda seen as a strategic move -- Financial Times
Nusra Front Eyes Legitimacy in Syria After Amicable Split With Al-Qaida -- Haaretz
Al-Qaeda affiliate's desperate 'switch' validates US Syria policy -- Al-Monitor
It looks like Al Qaeda is 'laying a trap' for the US — and giving Russia exactly what it wants -- Business Insider
More Than PR: Al-Nusra Parts Ways With Al-Qaeda to Gain More Power in Syria -- Sputnik
It's Not You, It's Me: Al-Qaeda Lost Jabhat al-Nusra. Now What? -- War on the Rocks