At the beginning of 2012, Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) was one amongst many Syrian jihadi groups fighting against the regime of Bashar al-Assad and striving to eventually establish a Sunni Islamic State in Syria.

What are the flags of the al-Nusra Front?

Flags of the al-Nusra Front Flag of the al-Nusra Front, most commonly used until July 2016 Flag of Tanzim Qaidat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Sham – Jabhat al-Nusra (“Organization of Jihad’s Base in the Levant – Victory Front”) used from April 2013 to July 2016 Flag of Jabhat al-Nusra’s branch in Lebanon used from 2013 to 2014

What is Jabhat Fatah al-Sham called in English?

Al-Nusra Front or Jabhat al-Nusra (Arabic: جبهة النصرة‎), known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (Arabic: جبهة فتح الشام‎) after July 2016, and also described as al-Qaeda in Syria or al-Qaeda in the Levant, was a Salafist jihadist organization fighting against Syrian government forces in the Syrian Civil War.

What is al-Nusra and what is its aim?

Its aim was to establish an Islamic state in the country. The group has changed its name several times and merged with and separated from other groups. Formed in 2012, in November of that year The Washington Post described al-Nusra as “the most aggressive and successful” of the rebel forces.

What happened to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham?

In July 2016, al-Nusra formally re-branded as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (“Front for the Conquest of the Levant”). On 28 January 2017, following violent clashes with Ahrar al-Sham and other rebel groups, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham merged with four other groups to become Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

What is the al-Nusra Front accused of?

In an Amnesty International report in July 2016, the al-Nusra Front was accused of torture, child abduction, and summary execution. In December 2014, al-Nusra Front fighters shot dead a woman execution-style on accusations of adultery. They have also stoned to death women accused of extramarital relations.

Who is al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani?

The leader of al-Nusra, a self-proclaimed emir, goes by the name of Abu Mohammad al-Julani ( also transliterated as Mohammed and al-Jawlani, or al-Golani), which implies that he is from the Golan Heights ( al-Jawlan, in Arabic).