An Israeli soldier opens a gate as a U.N. convoy carrying Fijian U.N. peacekeepers released by al-Qaeda-linked group Nusra Front in Syria on Thursday, drives towards Israeli-held territory on the Golan heights September 11, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
(Reuters) - Al Qaeda dismissed as "lies" a U.S. assessment that it is in decline, but a defiant online message issued by the network on Sunday made no mention of the ultra-hardline Islamic State group widely seen as its rival for the leadership of global jihad.
"Whatever slip-ups or errors (regional branches)...may have committed are limited in number in the midst of mountains of good deeds and successes," said Hossam Abdul Raouf, an Egyptian veteran of the militant group. He said compensation and apologies had been given to unintended victims but gave no details.
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