ASSESSMENTS

A Jihadist Group by Any Other Name

Aug 1, 2016 | 16:15 GMT

Jabhat al-Nusra fighters in Aleppo head to the front lines in May 2015. The group recently renamed itself Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, but that does not mean its composition or connections have changed.

(FADI AL-HALABI/AFP/Getty Images)

Summary

Jabhat al-Nusra, one of the most effective groups fighting alongside the Syrian rebels, has changed its name in an effort to make itself more difficult for the United States to target. Abu Mohammed al-Golani, Jabhat al-Nusra's leader, announced on July 28 that the group had severed all ties with al Qaeda and rebranded itself as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham. Though the group's new moniker will change neither its membership nor its ideology, the move may be enough to help protect it from Washington and its rebel allies.

Jabhat al-Nusra, one of the most effective groups fighting alongside the Syrian rebels, has changed its name in a last-ditch effort to make itself more difficult for the United States to target. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, Jabhat al-Nusra's leader, announced on July 28 that the group had severed all ties to al Qaeda and rebranded itself as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham. Though the group's new moniker will change neither its membership nor its ideology, the move may be enough to help protect it from Washington and its rebel allies. ...

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