Infighting between ISIL, al-Nusra front continues in Syria

Despite the plea Al-Qaeda Chief Ayman al-Zawaheri issued to stop the infighting between Al-Nusra Front and The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the two terrorist groups continued their fierce clashes. The Syria branch of the ISIL has sharply criticized the global terror network's leader, rejecting his call for them to leave the country. An audio recording, purportedly made by ISIL Spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, also urged al-Zawahri to remove the leader of the al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, Al-Ahednews reported. "Osama (bin Laden) gathered all the ‘mujahedeen' (holy warriors) with one word, but you divided them and tore them apart," Adnani said in the audio statement posted on ‘jihadist' forums Sunday, referring to Zawahri's predecessor Osama bin Laden. The authenticity of the recording could not be immediately verified. In the audiotape, Adnani called on Zawahri to replace Al-Nusra Front's leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. Heavy fighting continued Monday between the ISIL and al-Nusra in the Eastern province bordering Iraq, forcing many residents to flee. The clashes between Al-Nusra Front and the ISIL have prompted 60,000 people to flee towns in the oil-rich province of Deir Ezzor. The Observatory said 58 fighters on both sides had been killed in the clashes at the time, along with five civilians. The deaths bring to 150 the toll since the latest confrontation between the groups erupted last week in Deir Ezzor, bordering Iraq.