Nusra Front eliminates ISIS-linked group in Eastern Ghouta

(Translation by Yusra Ahmed) 

When the hardline Islamic State group started its war against rebels and other Islamist factions in liberated areas, Islam Army was one of the first battalions to face the Islamic State in Eastern Ghouta suburbs and managed to eradicate them from the area.  
However, it seems that Islamic State preferred to come back to Eastern Ghouta district of Damascus under different name, as “al-Ansar” battalion had appeared, but it was only a name without any tangible military effects or achievement.  
However “al-Ansar” battalion was eradicated and expelled of Eastern Ghouta by Nusra front this time, not the Islam Army.  
To reach to truth about “al-Ansar” battalion, Zaman al-Wasl met one of the four founding commanders who talked on condition of anonymity, he revealed that all them were former commanders in Nusra Front.  
“Al-Ansar” battalion’s commander summarized their principles in 6 points, the most important one was implementing God’s orders especially at swearing to God, the prophet and Quran, which Nusra Front had not applied.  
Al-Ansar battalion aims to stop internal conflict and conspiracy against the nation, besides activate sleeping military formations in Eastern Ghouta, support all fighting groups in their struggle against Assad’s regime, training fighters in their camps on arms and fighting.  
The Commander explained to Zaman al-Wasl that they were successful in attracting many fighters and leaders from other formations, most of them from Nusra Front. “Our fighters reached to 500 among us was Abo Muhammed al-Iraqi, who has lived in Syria since 2003”  
The Commander explained that tension and frequent conflicts took place between them and Nusra Front because many members of the “Front” joined al-Ansar battalion, to end up in direct fighting between both of them.  
The leader mentioned that “al-Ansar” helped Nusra front in many battles, especially when the front wanted to enter Damascus where “al-Ansar” battalion lost around 100 fighters, but Nusra Front preferred not to mention that fact.  
In the end of his talk, Al-ansar’s commander mentioned that many members in the battalion adopted the Islamic State’s principles.  
On the other hand, a leader in Nusra Front mentioned that “al-Ansar” battalion have chosen the tricky name to hint their support to the Islamic State and the “Caliphate” and consider them as a sleeping cell for the state in Eastern Ghouta.  
Nusra Front’s leader mentioned that “al-Ansar” battalion are not as big as they claim, as they were few after defeating the Islamic State and returned under the new name waiting for support. “Luckily we managed to eradicate all cells of al-Ansar in Eastern Ghouta and dealt with them according to Sharea and everyone was judged fairly.”