Sixteen different rebel groups in Syria have issued an announcement that they intend to work with rebel group Ahrar al-Sham to fight the salafist rebel group Jund al-Aqsa.The communique was published via Twitter the same day as a YouTube video emerged of a rebel leader describing a ‘coalition’ force that would break the siege of Aleppo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q8kNdmLyQg

“God willing, the battle for Aleppo is very close and the camps of all the (rebel) factions are gathering, with (Harakat Nour al-Din) al-Zenki, Nusra (Jabhat Fateh al-Sham), Ahrar al-Sham – all of them as one army,” said Molham Ekaidi, a leader of the Fastaqim Union.

“Inside and outside Aleppo, we will fight as one.”

Fighting between Ahrar al-Sham and Jund al-Aqsa has intensified in the area around Idlib in recent days, with graphic footage emerging of Jund al-Aqsa allegedly murdering prisoners.