Video shows Syria rebel group executing 18 Daesh fighters

A Syrian rebel group operating around Damascus has executed 18 alleged members of Daesh group in a video mimicking the extremist organisation's own productions.

The video, which emerged overnight, shows fighters from Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) wearing the orange prison clothes that Daesh victims often sport.

Daesh prisoners however are wearing black clothes and chained together wearing ankle and hand shackles with metal balls attached.

The nearly 20-minute production mimics many aspects of Daesh's own execution videos, with similar sound effects and visuals.

Jaysh al-Islam fighters in the video say Daesh forces are being executed in part as revenge for the deaths of at least three of the rebel group's members who were beheaded by Daesh.

The rebel group also refers to a major battle it fought with Daesh in February.

It accuses Daesh of being allied with President Bashar al-Assad's regime against its fighters and those of other Islamist rebel groups.

The video includes starkly sectarian language, accusing Daesh of betraying Sunni Muslims and allying with Shiite Muslims and "Nusayris," a derogatory terms for the Alawite sect to which Assad belongs.

It contains lengthy "confessions" from Daesh fighters who claim that they did not fight against the Syrian army while with Daesh.

The interrogations appear intended to show that Daesh has focused its fight on other opposition forces, rather than the Syrian government.

The last part of the video shows the 18 Daesh fighters in black, kneeling before Jaysh al-Islam executioners who shoot them in the head.

The shots are filmed from multiple angles and include gruesome close-up shots.

Daesh group emerged in Syria in 2013, when it sought to merge with Al-Qaeda's local affiliate Al-Nusra Front.

But Al-Nusra refused the merger, and Daesh has since been at odds with the group as well as Islamist and moderate rebels.

In the area around Damascus, its forces have battled Jaysh al-Islam and other rebel organisations.

Last week, a video emerged showing Daesh jihadists beheading 12 men from rival groups, among them at least three from Jaysh al-Islam and one from Al-Nusra.
Source: AFP