Senior rebel commander says fighting 'two states', regime and ISIS, prolongs victory

(Reporting by Ahmad Primo; translation by Yusra Ahmed)

Zaman al-Wasl has met with Saqer Abo Kotaiba, the commander of 'Fastakem Kama Omert', one of the key rebel formations in Aleppo, said rebels were able to regain many posts from the Islamic State, but ISIS got closer to the Infantry School and they were not able to stop them.

Abo Kotaiba revealed that rebels had moved from defending to attacking position. He confessed that battle with ISIS would affect the main battle against the Syrian regime.

The commander mentioned that most armed groups have stopped against ISIS, some of them did not want to fight ISIS, but Salafi Fatwa changed forced them to change their attitude and fight the State.

Abo Kotaiba explained that ISIS is very well organized and that one of the reasons behind its power, while the armed opposition still lack cooperation and coordination among its forces.

In regard to the absence of Nusra Front from the formation of operation room for Fateh Aleppo , he explained that the Front refused some main points of the agreement like handing the liberated areas to civilians. Moreover, the front did not agree on the plans for the after-liberation stage, like the security operation room and the city's directorate besides other bodies and local councils.

The commander confirmed that they do not fight any sect and all people from whatever religion they are, would be protected and treated equally as all Syrians are the same.

Saqer explained that he is not interested in the form of the regime would control Syria after Assad overthrown, as he would leave arms and return to his family and work once the regime was overthrown, and he would elect a leader by voting like others.

In the end, he confirmed that in Aleppo they fight two states, the Syrian regime supported by its sectarian militias, and the Islamic State supported by fighters came from all over the world. “Now we have re-positioned our forces and we promise Syrians that we would regain all areas taken by ISIS.”

Meanwhile, at least 220,000 people have been killed in Syria's conflict; more than double the figure documented a year ago and probably still an under-estimate, according to the United Nations.