The Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham’s spokesman blamed al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri for the jihadist infighting in Syria, dismissed his order for ISIS to quit Syria, and said ISIS had refrained from attacking Iran at al Qaeda’s request. ISIS clashed with rebels in Raqqah. The Al Nusrah Front and the Islamic Front battled regime forces in Latakia, Hama, and Aleppo, where they were joined by the Jaysh al Mujahireen wal Ansar. After an eight-day shutoff by Islamist rebels, some water has begun to flow again in Aleppo city, but it is being diverted to neighborhoods controlled by Al Nusrah and the Islamic Front. In Deir Izzour, Al Nusrah clashed with tobacco smugglers on the Iraqi border. The Islamic Front also battled regime forces in Deraa, Idlib, and Reef Dimashq. Rebels in Adra are reportedly negotiating with the Assad regime to release 1,500 families held hostage in the city in exchange for some 1,500 detained rebels.
