Al-Qaida's local branch set to dominate Syria rebels

JaN's standing among the Syrian rebel movement has been bolstered by a series of major strategic wins against the regime in north western Syria. The capture of Idlib city and Jisr al-Shughur have given the group and its allies control of Idlib province and provided a strategic vantage point for the group to extend their control in the north and challenge the regime in its Alawi heartland on the coast. However, the group's affiliation with al-Qaida raises questions over whether it has longer-term ambitions to refocus on the global jihad.

Moderate, mainstream secular rebels will struggle to regain position in the north without a substantial increase in US backing.