[lbo-talk] nearly half rebel fighters are jihadists

[Wojtek S]

Opposition forces battling Bashar al-Assad's regime in
Syria<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria> now
number around 100,000 fighters, but after more than two years of fighting
they are fragmented into as many as 1,000 bands.

The new study by IHS Jane's, a defence consultancy, estimates there are
around 10,000 jihadists - who would include foreign fighters - fighting for
powerful factions linked to al-Qaeda..

Another 30,000 to 35,000 are hardline Islamists who share much of the
outlook of the jihadists, but are focused purely on the Syrian war rather
than a wider international struggle.

There are also at least a further 30,000 moderates belonging to groups that
have an Islamic character, meaning only a small minority of the rebels are
linked to secular or purely nationalist groups.

The stark assessment, to be published later this week, accords with the
view of Western diplomats estimate that less than one third of the
opposition forces are "palatable" to Britain, while American envoys put the
figure even lower.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/10311007/Syria-nearly-half-rebel-fighters-are-jihadists-or-hardline-Islamists-says-IHS-Janes-report.html

-- 
Wojtek

"An anarchist is a neoliberal without money."