Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al Nusra Front on Monday reaffirmed its allegiance to the global extremist network and denied any plan to break away and become a more internationally acceptable rebel force.
The angry statement followed weeks of speculation on Internet social networks of a split between the “jihadist” allies.
Al Nusra "completely denies reports of a break-up with Al Qaeda," the group said in a statement released on Twitter.
It said Al Nusra "remains the backbone of jihadists" in Syria, "the first into battle, dedicated to unifying the ranks around sharia (Islamic law)... righting injustice and defending the disadvantaged".
It denied "completely all reports of a meeting with Qatari or other intelligence services or seeking Qatari or Persian Gulf funding, as this is contrary to the principles on which Al Nusra has been based from the start".
An official branch of Qaeda since April 2013, the group dominates a swathe of northwest Syria despite months of US-led coalition airstrikes.