ISIL retreats from parts of north Syria ISIL fighters retreat to the east following ultimatum by rival al-Qaeda faction Nusra to drive them from northern Syria. Fighters from the breakaway group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have begun withdrawing from parts of northern Syria ahead of a deadline set by a powerful rival al-Qaeda faction. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Friday said the ISIL was retreating east towards its stronghold in the city of Raqa. The withdrawal comes four days after the al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front issued the ISIL an ultimatum to go before an Islamic court for mediation or face being expelled from Syria and the region altogether. The deadline was to expire on Saturday. ISIL has withdrawn from Aazaz, its most important bastion in Aleppo province, as well as the Minnigh military airport, the Mayer region and the villages of Deir Jamal and Kafin, the observatory said. Aleppo region is their weakest link, so they fear being attacked there by Nusra and other rebels after the deadline expires, observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. Rahman said the ISIL fighters had regrouped in particular in Jarabulus and Manbij, on the far eastern border of Aleppo province and close to its Raqa stronghold.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:53:26 +0000
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