But the Islamic State’s rivals in the Al Nusrah Front, an official branch of al Qaeda, have been gaining ground over the past several months. And Stewart’s testimony makes it clear that the Khorasan Group’s operatives are deeply embedded within Al Nusrah. The US-led coalition struck Al Nusrah and the Khorasan Group in September of last year, but has not made targeting al Qaeda in Syria a priority since then. “Core” al Qaeda operatives are stationed throughout the world, including inside al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The general manager of al Qaeda’s global network, Nasir al Wuhayshi, also serves as the emir of AQAP, a regional branch of al Qaeda.