(S (S (S (NP (NP (BASENP (DT The) (NN type)) (PP (IN of) (BASENP (NN group)))) (CC and) (BASENP (PRPD its) (JJ exact) (NNS purposes))) (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (JJ unclear) (PP (IN at) (BASENP (DT this) (NN stage)))))) (COMMA ,) (SBAR (IN although) (S (BASENP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ appears) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ supportive) (PP (IN of) (BASENP (JJ Syrian) (NNP President) (NNP Bashar) (NNP al-Assad))))))))))) (PERIOD .))