The audio recording aired by Al Jazeera on Oct. 8  of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri has caused quite a stir, in particular because Zawahri called for disbanding the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Zawahri also confirmed that Jabhat al-Nusra was the organization's branch is Syria, giving it the cloak of legitimacy. Meanwhile, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi responded by rejecting Zawahri's call, stressing that ISIS will remain in Iraq and in Syria.

In the recording, Zawahri stated, "The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham is canceled, and work continues under the name of the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI)," adding, "Jabhat al-Nusra is an autonomous branch of Jamaat al-Qaeda al-Jihad [i.e., al-Qaeda] and follows its general leadership." Zawahri further said, "The realm of ISI is Iraq, and that of Jabhat al-Nusra is Syria." Zawahri's statements supported Jabhat al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani's demand that his group remain independent of Baghdadi in Syria and that he withdraw from al-Qaeda's branch in Iraq.

Zawahri additionally asserted, "Sheikh Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi erred when he announced the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham without seeking our order, consulting us or even notifying us … and Sheikh Abu Mohammed al-Golani erred when he announced his rejection of ISIS and made clear his relation with al-Qaeda without seeking our order, consulting us or even notifying us."

In a recording broadcast Nov. 8, Baghdadi responded to Zawahri, saying, "The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham will remain … and we will not compromise [ISIS] or give it up." In an earlier audio message, released in April 2013, Baghdadi had contended that Jabhat al-Nusra was "an extension of the Islamic State of Iraq and a part of it," declaring the "disbanding of the name 'the Islamic State of Iraq' and that of 'Jabhat al-Nusra', and combining them under a single name: the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham." Baghdadi claimed that he had consulted with Ahl al-Hal wal Aqad, al-Qaeda's leadership and scholars, regarding the integration of the two organizations and that they had given their blessing to this move.