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The rebels who took down Assad aren't looking for a caliphate

The article discusses how Syrian rebels, particularly those from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), have learned from the strategic and tactical failures of Al-Qaeda in their fight against the Assad regime. It highlights that while Al-Qaeda aimed for a global jihad, their approach often alienated local populations due to their harsh governance and indiscriminate violence, which included targeting civilians. In contrast, the FSA has focused on gaining local support by integrating with communities, providing services, and maintaining a more disciplined and less radical image. This shift in strategy has allowed the FSA to sustain their fight longer and with broader local acceptance, learning from Al-Qaeda's mistakes by avoiding actions that would turn the populace against them. The piece also touches on how these lessons have influenced the broader dynamics of the Syrian conflict, with the FSA attempting to present a more moderate face of the rebellion, which has implications for international support and the future political landscape of Syria.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/what-syria-s-triumphant-rebels-learned-from-al-qaeda-s-striking-failures/ar-AA1vAF5D ]