The Islamic State battled regime forces in Aleppo; Hama; Hasakah; Raqqah; Deir Izzour, where the IS also clashed with tribal gunmen and the Islamic Front; and in Reef Dimashq, where the IS fought along with the Al Nusrah Front and the Islamic Front in Qalamoun. The Islamic State told media activists on Aug. 1 in Deir Izzour they had to swear allegiance to the IS and submit all reports to IS. The Al Nusrah Front and the Islamic Front battled regime forces in Aleppo; Damascus; Reef Dimashq; and Hama. Al Nusrah clashed with the Al Haramen brigade in Deraa. Al Nusrah’s emir for Idlib was killed in a car bombing. The Army of Islam and Suqour Al Sham Brigades issued a statement “complementing the declaration of the Islamic Front 8 months ago [and] … “declar[ing] the full integration of all units, battalions, bureaus, media and political activities under the name of ‘The Islamic Front’ in order to abolish factionalism,” to be commanded by Muhammad Zahran Alloush.
