Russia says Al-Qaeda, Daesh may merge

There are signs of an “imminent merge” between Al-Qaeda and Daesh, the Director of Russia’s Federal Security Service, Alexander Bortnikov, warned yesterday.

The success of the Syrian government forces backed by Russian warplanes and the US-led international coalition, has buried Daesh endeavours to establish a false Islamic state in the Middle East,” Bortnikov said at the opening of the 17th meeting of the of the heads of the country’s special services, security agencies and law enforcement bodies held in the Russian capital of Moscow.

Daesh militants, Bortnikov added, have been smoked out of most of their bases in populated localities suffering heavy losses. “They [Daesh] are looking for new opportunities, avenues and methods to continue their murderous activities.”

The Russian official pointed out that Al-Qaeda and Daesh “could unite their potentials,” warning of what he described as “negative consequences” that might result from that merge.

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“There are a number of signs indicating their possible merger,” he reiterated.

“Both organistions use a similar ideological basis and common manpower for replenishing each other’s units,” Bortnikov stressed.

He noted that despite fact that there are armed conflicts existing between the Al-Qaeda and Daesh units, “some terror elements have been switching from one organisation to another being guided by the motives of personal benefits, changes on the battlefield and other reasons.”