Radical Syrian groups join forces to form ‘Islamic state’

BEIRUT: : Seven key radical groups fighting President Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria announced a merger to form an “Islamic Front” on Friday, pledging to work toward an Islamic state.
“The Islamic Front is an independent military and social force that is aimed at bringing down Assad’s regime in Syria and at replacing it with a just Islamic state,” it said in a statement.
The statement was published after a rebel spokesman, Abu Firas, announced on Facebook “the complete merger of the major military factions fighting in Syria.”
Among the groups joining the merger are Aleppo’s biggest fighting force Liwa Al-Tawhid, the Ahrar Al-Sham and the Army of Islam. The Kurdish Islamic Front also joined the front.
The announcement came days after the death of Liwa Al-Tawhid’s charismatic military chief Abdel Qader Saleh, who had made calls for unity.