Russian Foreign Ministry calls Jabhat al-Nusra’s attempts to change image vain

MOSCOW, July 29./TASS/. Attempts of Jabhat al-Nusra to paint itself differently by changing its name are vain, the group remains an illegal terrorist organization, fight against it will continue until it is fully destroyed, a Russian Foreign Ministry commentary said on Friday.

The ministry referred to a statement by Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the leader of the banned in Russia terrorist organization Jabhat al-Nusra, who said its new name would be Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (Front or the Conquest of Syria/the Levant). The statement was shown on Al Jazeera television channel on Thursday.

"Its ‘brotherhood’ with another, also banned in Russia organization, Al-Qaeda, as if discontinues. Within this ‘rebranding’ of their group, the terrorists shedding skin have even taken the trouble to disguise their flag, changing its color from black to white," the statement said.

"It is worth recalling that Jabhat al-Nusra was set up in January 2012 as a strike force of the so-called Islamic State, also banned in Russia," the statement went on. "Then, after swearing allegiance to Al-Qaeda, this group began acting as its branch, along with such terrorist structures as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula," it said.

"It is noteworthy that in his statement, Al-Julani felt it necessary to thank the leadership of al-Qaeda for ‘understanding’ and for instructions how to wage a jihad in the best way under new circumstances," it said.

"There is no need to prove that all attempts of terrorists to change their image are vain," the ministry said. "No matter how it would call itself, Jabhat al-Nusra has been and remains an illegal terrorist organization, which has no other aim but to create the so-called Islamic Caliphate through cruel and barbarous methods. Consistent fight against these fanatics will be continued with the support of the world community until they are fully destroyed," it said.