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Coalition to Announce Fatah Al-Sham a Terrorist Organization | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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People walk near rubble of damaged buildings, in the rebel-held besieged area of Aleppo, Syria November 19, 2016. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail


Beirut: The National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces is expected to announce its decision to label the Fatah Al-Sham Front (former Nusra Front) a terrorist organization and to warn other opposition armed factions against dealing with the group, in line with a preparatory step to remove the Front from Aleppo.

The Coalition’s decision aims to protect civilians and to implement a new strategy announced on Saturday by its president Anas al-Abdah who pledged that the Syrian opposition would adopt a “new strategy at the military and political levels.”

Former National Coalition member Samir Nashar revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the “coalition unanimously agreed during its meeting held last Friday to consider Fatah al-Sham Front a terrorist organization” and to lift the coalition’s political cover off any faction whose targets do not meet with those of the Syrian Revolution.

Nashar said the coalition is expected to announce its decision in the next few hours.

According to Nashar, this decision “if announced, would constitute a positive sign and an important step, but remains insufficient to fix the revolution’s path, particularly the political one after the Friends of Syria were incapable to support the opposition, except morally.”

Attesting his idea, Nashar said the U.S. had lately asked opposition factions to comply with the requests of the regime and its allies by leaving Aleppo.

It is worth noting that Nashar announced on Sunday his resignation from the Coalition and said: “I am incapable anymore to serve the Revolution and my city Aleppo through the Coalition.”

Sources at the “Coalition” also asserted to Asharq Al-Awsat that the group had discussed a decision to label the Fatah Al-Sham Front as a terrorist organization it its latest General Assembly meeting. “An agreement to remove Fatah al-Sham from Aleppo is expected to be the first outcome of this decision,” the sources said.