Nusra Front chief Abu Mohamad al-Golani.
Highlights
- Nusra Front has renamed itself Jabhat Fatah al Sham
- Nusra Front was excluded from Syria's cessation of hostilities truce
- Russia, US are discussing closer coordination to target the group
Nusra Front has renamed itself Jabhat Fatah al Sham so that the international community, the United States and Russia can no longer use the pretext of its affiliation with al Qaeda to attack Syrians, the group's leader, Abu Mohamad al-Golani said.
Listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States, Nusra Front was excluded from Syria's February cessation of hostilities truce.
Russia and the United States are also discussing closer coordination to target the group.
© Thomson Reuters 2016