Power struggle growing among terrorists in Syria

Confrontations are growing among foreign-backed militant groups fighting to topple the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Ideological differences have been emerging in the highly divided militants, who now turn their guns at their comrades over small personal disputes.

The rise in violent and at times fatal skirmishes highlight the intense contest for power in the militant-controlled areas, fueling fears of another war should Assad step down.

In April, a militant with the Liwa al-Tawhid group was killed while driving to the brigade headquarters, in an attack blamed on Sawt al-Haq Brigade of the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA).

More clashes are breaking out as mounting differences come into light between more secular FSA forces and extremist Salafi militants and al-Qaeda-linked terrorists from neighboring countries such as Libya and Iraq.

The deadliest of such confrontations erupted in April between the Faruq Brigade and the al-Nusra Front in Tal Abiyad, on the border with Turkey.

Experts believe a power struggle between rival militant groups in Syria is certain once Assad steps down and perhaps even sooner.

Meanwhile, the non-Syrian militants’ capture of key infrastructure in the north and east of the country – including oil and gas plants, a hydroelectric dam and grain silos – seems to upset the FSA more than ever as the al-Qaeda-linked rival shows off its military prowess.

“They (al-Nusra fighters and allies) have left their homes, their countries to come fight our war,” said Abu Basir, an FSA brigade commander in Latakia.

“But this is our country and we don’t want outsiders to come and rule over it. They must realize that they have to leave once the war ends,” he insisted, warning that tensions could intensify otherwise.

Syria has been gripped by a deadly unrest since March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of security forces and army personnel, have been killed in the violence.

Damascus says the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, blaming the West and its regional allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for supporting the armed groups.