Radical Islamic militant groups are consolidating their power base across northern Syria with a reformed al-Qaeda doctrine of governance that seeks to correct the mistakes made by the organisation in Iraq.
Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian group that publicly pledged its allegiance to al-Qaeda’s commander, Ayman al-Zawahiri, last month, now occupies key roles in local ruling bodies in Aleppo.
Its writ extends into the neighbouring province of Idlib, far outstripping the exiled Western-backed Syrian National Coalition in influence.
“If you want something done in this city then go to Jabhat al-Nusra and ask for it,” a Syrian said in Aleppo last week. “They alone have a reputation for getting things done quickly and fairly.”
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