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Al-Qaeda Affiliates Competing in Syria
(Washington Post) Jabbar Yaseen and Liz Sly - Al-Qaeda's Iraq affiliate has undergone a number of identity transformations since it announced its existence in 2004 to counter the U.S. occupation. In 2006, it rebranded itself as the Islamic State of Iraq. The Islamic State has rapidly encroached on Jabhat al-Nusra's support base in many locations in northern Syria in recent weeks, analysts say. It has taken the lead in the most recent battles between Kurds and rebels in the two northeastern provinces of Raqqah and Hasakah, and it has gained ascendancy over many more-moderate rebel groups in Aleppo and Idlib provinces.