(VOVworld) – US intelligence Chief James Clapper affirmed on Friday that analysts had not seen any evidence indicating Islamic State jihadists and Al-Qaeda had forged an alliance in Syria.
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| Director of US National Intelligence James Clapper speaks during a discussion on July 22, 2014 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Alex Wong) |
Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, said US experts were unaware of any pact between the two groups, which would potentially complicate the US-led military campaign in Syria. Clapper said although there have been tactical accommodations, on the battlefield, on occasion, where local groups have united in the interest of the tactical objective, but broadly, it’s not likely to the IS and Al-Qaeda to unite.
The Daily Beast reported earlier this week that veterans of the al Qaeda splinter group known as Khorasan were trying to broker a deal between Islamic State fighters and members of the Al-Nusra Front, Al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate.