Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #NLF

The intra-jihadi dynamic in #Idlib is rapidly intensifying, as #HTS is seeking to re-assert itself vis-a-vis (1) the opposition, (2) local civil society, (3) #Turkey & (4) increasingly exasperated #AlQaeda-leaning factions.

In doing so, it's revealing its multiple identities.

In recent weeks, we've seen escalatory events:

1. Khaled al-Aruri's death in a US drone strike

2. Formation of the #AlQaeda-leaning 'Stand Firm' ops room

3. #HTS arrest of:
- Sirajideen Makhtarov (Abu Saloh al-Uzbeki)
- Jamal Hassan Zayniya (Abu Malik al-Talli)
- Tauqir Sharif

Weeks ago, #HTS was attempting to [re-]build bridges with #Idlib civil society & now it's cracking down on divisive #AlQaeda loyalists & defecting critics.

Hard not to see the drivers involved here:

- Protect internal unity & regional primacy
- Undermine #AQ
- Message #Turkey

Read 33 tweets

#Syria #Idlib
Here is the moment when #Turkish forces started shooting at protesters on the M4 highway against joint #Russia|n-TSK patrol missions.

https://twitter.com/Kyruer/status/1254322289031688193?s=19

#Syria #Idlib
Açcording to local news agencies, a #Turkish drone has airstriked an #HTS position in Eastern Idlib after militants tried to destroy a TSK vehicle with an ATGM missile.

#Syria #Idlib
Apaprently, #HTS and #Turkey are holding talks in order to de-escalate the situation.

Read 197 tweets

A lot has changed in #Idlib/NW #Syria in recent days & much of the focus has been on hour-by-hour developments & less has been said on what it all means going forward.

Here's a lengthy thread laying out some of my thinking.

2 weeks ago, pro-#Assad forces were rampaging through #Idlib, overwhelming opposition defenses & swallowing up #Turkey's military observation posts almost at will.

The world stood virtually silent - or indifferent - as 1 million people were methodically & brutally displaced.

#pt: Amid the pro-#Assad advances, #Turkey ramped up arms supplies & intel sharing with #NLF/#SNA opposition proxies - in an attempt to bolster their offensive & defensive capabilities.

Then #TSK artillery support was added, along with a low-tempo campaign of covert UAV strikes.

Read 26 tweets

#Syria: the town of Saraqib in back under opposition control in what is the first success of the counter attacks against the #Assad regime in #Idlib

#Syria: meanwhile the regime has seized the entire area south of the M4 highway, concentrating opposition forces further in NW #Idlib

#Syria: opposition forces also captured the village of Afes, just north of Saraqib (#Idlib)

Read 22 tweets

#Syria: despite the large number of Turkish troops moving into the region regime forces continue to advance in #Idlib, taking the town of Kafr Halab today

#Syria: #NLF managed to take out one regime ATGM position in the village of Talhiyah, just north of Saraqib (#Idlib)

#Syria: regime artillery is targeting the town of Atarib (W #Aleppo) tonight. Thousands of residents and IDPs are fleeing

Read 3 tweets

#Syria: Russian warplanes have bombed the main hospital in the town of #Ariha. RuAF continues to support regime forces on the ground by committing war crimes against civilians all over #Idlib

#Syria: Russian warplanes targeted a @SyriaCivilDef center in Saraqib (#Idlib), injuring 6 rescue workers

@SyriaCivilDef #Syria: #NLF rebels seem to have received a new shipment of ATGmissiles, taking out several regime targets. Like this T90 tank in al-Rashideen (western #Aleppo).

Read 5 tweets

#Syria: thousands of Desperate Syrians hlare heading towards the border with #Turkey as the regime is surrounding Maarrat al-Numan

#Syria: in the eastern countryside of #Idlib #NLF rebels are trying to resist the regime, but it is a hopeless fight.

Under Russian air cover the regime continues to advance

#Syria: regime forces have reaches the M5 highway in southern #Idlib and threaten to besiege Maarrat al-Numan, as they try to advance around the city.

Read 4 tweets

#Syria #Idlib
Wreckages of the missile used by #SyAF-#Russia|n warplanes on a refugee camp in Qah.
Still unclear to me the logic of using such weapon since now Russia cannot share its well-known fake news about White Helmets staging the attacks.

#Syria #Idlib
Death toll in Qah refugee camp due to a #SyAF-#Russia|n airstrike rised to +20. +15 wounded.

https://twitter.com/Kyruer/status/1197213432161931264?s=19

#Syria #Idlib
More pics of the wreckages of the missile used by #SyAF-#Russia|n warplanes to airstrike a refugee camp in Qah.

https://twitter.com/Kyruer/status/1197228534651072512?s=19

Read 454 tweets

#Syria #Idlib
Footage showing Bidama town being targeted by #SAA GRAD rockets. 1 person killed.
[Thanks to @obretix].

#Syria #Idlib
Footage showing the result of #SAA rockets on urban areas in al-Hawijah town, Western #Hama.

#Syria #Idlib
#SAA targeted urban areas in Khan Shaykhoun with rockets.

Read 451 tweets

#Syria #Idlib
This morning #SAA has shelled civilian facilities in Kafr Zeita (aka Kafr Zita) and Morek. Reports of wounded people.

#Syria #Idlib
#SyAF-#Russia|n warplanes are bombarding urban areas in al-Lataminah, de facto violating the ceasefire imposed by Syrian and Russian authorities.

#Syria #Idlib
Footage showing Bidama town being targeted by #SAA GRAD rockets. 1 person killed.
[Thanks to @obretix].

Read 448 tweets

Riam Dalati

@Dalatrm

Rebels were able to capture several #SAA soldiers following their attempt to capture Mt. #Zahya Observation post in #Turkmen Mountain

#NLF commander said rebels were able to take over several sentry positions around Mt. #Zahyah.
'The aim is to take over the main observation post, once in our hands, its auxiliary posts will have to retreat for cover.'

He credited #Hurras and #HTS al-Deen with planning the thrust of the operation
'their scouts were casing the targets for a month. We're providing artillery and fire support, but their shock troops are doing most of the fighting. We're guarding against possible rear action.'

Read 4 tweets

Filomena Rocha

@Filomen03258997

28. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey,Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Jordan, Nato in Syria

#RegimeChange #FakeNews #FalseFlag #terrorism #SyriaInvasion #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstChildren #CrimesAgainstHumanity

1 to 20. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Jordan, Nato in Syria 🤨👇🏼
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1136642…

21. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey,Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Jordan, Nato in Syria🤨👇🏼
threadreaderapp.com/thread/1137566…

Read 175 tweets

Filomena Rocha

@Filomen03258997

27. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey,Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Jordan, Nato in Syria

#RegimeChange #FakeNews #FalseFlag #terrorism #SyriaInvasion #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstChildren #CrimesAgainstHumanity

Read 168 tweets

Senior US officials have told me they'd only consider taking the risk of breaking #Russia's air-ban on NW #Syria on 2 conditions:

a) A senior AQ figure emerged as clear target
b) External attack plotting was detected.

I'd treat these "US strike" reports w. some caution for now.

https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/1145392551630987264

According to well-placed sources in NW #Syria, Huras al-Din figures have on [at least] several occasions raised the importance of re-asserting attention on attacking the West from #Idlib/#Aleppo.

That's a very unpopular proposition, so raising it speaks volumes re. confidence.

Overnight, @CENTCOM confirmed yesterday's strike on #AlQaeda's Huras al-Din in western #Aleppo.

Their reasoning confirms one of the two conditions U.S. officials had previously told me they'd need to break #Russia's air ban over NW #Syria: "plotting external attacks..."

Read 9 tweets

Filomena Rocha

@Filomen03258997

25. The Legacy of US, UK, France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey,Bahrain, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Jordan, Nato in Syria

#RegimeChange #FakeNews #FalseFlag #terrorism #SyriaInvasion #WarCrimes #CrimesAgainstChildren #CrimesAgainstHumanity

Read 175 tweets

Gut wrenching.

This young girl was killed today in #Assad regime shelling of Khan Sheikhoun, #Idlib. Her father could only hold her feet as she was carried away.

#Idlib might as well be Mars for 99.9% of the world these days.

The world is a cruel place. #Syria

Very important data from @ACLEDINFO, detailing the "disproportionate" scale of pro-#Assad violations of the demilitarized/de-escalation zone in #Syria's #Idlib/NW.

Moreover, regime shelling in Feb 2019 was x4 the previous monthly average.

@ACLEDINFO In a meeting with opposition fighters, #Turkey ordered #NLF factions to retaliate to #Assad regime shelling in #Idlib.

#Ankara also warned #Moscow & #Tehran that it'd withdraw from #Astana if attacks continued.

turkey-breaking.com/%d8%aa%d8%b1%d…

Read 27 tweets

Arabiana Intel

@ArabianaINTEL

THREAD: #SAA will soon launch #IdlibDawn operation to eliminate militants' presence in #Idlib, #Latakia, #Hama & W #Aleppo CS w/in green area (6,222 km^2).

Map shows vital targets, strategic mountain ranges & locations of #TAF/ #TSK military “observation” posts. #Syria 1️⃣

2️⃣ During FIRST stages of #IdlibDawn OP, #SAA will probably focus on 3 main axes:

1st: NW/W #Aleppo CS
2nd: N #Hama CS
3rd: NE #Latakia CS

#TAF presence will be seriously taken into account (as long as its existence); expecting certain pressure/isolation of #TSK posts.

3️⃣ FIRST AXIS; NW/W #Aleppo CS

Possible #SAA movements to secure #Anadan Plain & W Aleppo suburbs, forcing militants (#NLF) retreat towards Jabal Sem’an.

PS: The #TAF/ #TSK’s “Anadan” post is hereby bypassed from eastern axes. #Syria #IdlibDawn

Read 6 tweets