2. WHY AL-QAIDA IS OFFERING AN OLIVE BRANCH TO RENEGADE GROUP

The terrorist network is using Western-led airstrikes against the Islamic State group to try to bring the extremists back into its fold and capture some of the spotlight and jihadist support from IS military advances.

In this Monday, Oct. 20, 2014 file photo, thick smoke and flames from an airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition rise in Kobani, Syria, as seen from a hilltop on the outskirts of Suruc, at the Turkey-Syria border. Al-Qaida is using U.S. airstrikes in Syria as a reason to extend olive branches to the renegade Islamic State group, saying the two should stop feuding and join forces to attack Western targets, a reunification that intelligence analysts say would allow al-Qaida to capitalize on the younger group’s ruthless advance across the region. (AP Photo, Lefteris Pitarakis, File)