The Free Syrian Army, who had been the main force in the uprising against the Syrian government, is losing fighters to the Islamic extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra.

The defection of fighters to the Islamic group is causing a problem for western governments who are looking to help the rebels in their fight against President Assad’s regime.

“Fighters feel proud to join al-Nusra because that means power and influence,” said Abu Ahmed, a commander in the FSA told the Guardian. “Al-Nusra fighters rarely withdraw for shortage of ammunition or fighters and they leave their target only after liberating it.  They compete to carry out martyrdom operations.”

The Islamist group is affiliated with al-Qaeda who may be supplying weapons and ammunition.

The United States and Russia have proposed talks between the Syrian government and rebels.  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that talks would hopefully result in no need for western governments to provide arms to the rebels.

The Syrian government is using the Islamic terror angle to keep western troops from joining with the rebels.  President Assad said “there is no FSA, only al-Qaeda.”