The Long War Journal (Site-Wide)

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Zawahiri argues Islamic State’s caliphate is illegitimate in newly released message Posted: 09 Sep 2015 11:23 AM PDT In an audio message released today, al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri argues that Abu Bakr al Baghdadi's Islamic State is illegitimate. Zawahiri says Muslims are under no obligation to swear allegiance to Baghdadi, and al Qaeda does not recognize the Islamic State as a "caliphate." Despite their differences, Zawahiri says that if he were based in Iraq or Syria he would cooperate with the Islamic State in the fight against the West and other common enemies.

Syrian regime airbase in Idlib falls to Al Nusrah Front, allies Posted: 09 Sep 2015 06:52 AM PDT Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda's official branch in Syria, claims to have overrun the Abu Duhour airbase in Idlib. Al Nusrah also says that more than 100 of Bashar al Assad's fighters were killed and an additional 60 or so captured during the fighting.