Syria's Nusra Front breaks ties with al-Qaida

The al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front group announced on Thursday breaking its ties with the larger al-Qaida terrorist group.

In a video-taped message, the group leader, known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, announced that his group is no longer part of the al-Qaida, changing the group's name into Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, Arabic for the Front for Conquering the Levant.

The move came almost a week after the Unites States and Russia announced that al-Nusra will always be deemed as a terrorist group, agreeing to jointly carry out strikes against this group.

In his televised message, al-Jolani said the move came to strip the West of any pretext to strike Syrians.

Meanwhile, the U.S. state department said that the Nusra announcement could be a "rebranding exercise."

According to al-Arabyia TV, the al-Qaida told Nusra that it could break organizational ties with global al-Qaida to preserve its unity and continue its battle in Syria.

The Nusra Front announced its formation on Jan. 23, 2012.

In November 2012, Western media said al-Nusra was the most successful arm of the rebel forces.

Ten days later, the United States designated al-Nusra as a terrorist organization.

In early 2015, there were reports that Qatar and other Gulf states were trying to get al-Nusra to split away from the al-Qaida, after which they would support al-Nusra with money.

Now, observers express pessimism about the split, which could usher in a fresh support to the newly named group. Endit