The president of the Syrian National Coalition visited rebel troops in Latakia, where the Al Nusrah Front, Islamic fighters, and Free Syrian Army forces are battling regime troops. Al Nusrah claimed a joint offensive in Latakia with Ahrar al Sham, Ansar al-Sham, and Sham al-Islam; one of the commanders, Abu al Hassan, was said to be from core al Qaeda in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region. Activists and rebels disputed the regime’s claim that it captured a key hilltop in Latakia. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham clashed with regime forces in Raqqah; and battled eastern front fighters, Ahfad Al-Mursalin brigade, Jabhat Al Akrad, and rebels in Aleppo. Al Nusrah and the Islamic Front fought against regime forces in Hama. An activist observer group said the Syrian conflict has claimed over 150,000 lives.
