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This thread by @hxhassan is worth a read -- #HTS's violent response to #AlQaeda affiliate Huras Al-Din's overreach will have significant consequences.

A few additional notes of my own, to follow:

- This is all entirely consistent with #HTS/#JFS/#Nusra policy since ~2014.
@hxhassan My understanding of events leading up to the all-out fight differs somewhat -- #HTS's arrest of Abu Saloh al-Uzbeki
& Abu Malik al-Talli were *very* inflammatory to HaD. Both were crucial sources of finance & external networks. Plus, they came amid several escalatory accusations:
@hxhassan 1. After Abu Saloh's arrest, rumor swirled that #Turkey's MIT had transferred messages from #Moscow to #HTS, requesting his extradition via #Ankara in exchange for political & economic rewards.

Abu Saloh is accused of coordinating multiple attacks in #Russia in recent yrs.
Read 14 tweets
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.
#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 Image
#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 ImageImageImageImage
@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 ImageImage
#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. Image
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.
#Syria #Idlib
More pics of the wreckages of the missile used by #SyAF-#Russia|n warplanes to airstrike a refugee camp in Qah.
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
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
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 🤨👇🏼
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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
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
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 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.
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
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
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
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
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
Preparations appear to be underway for a pro-#Assad offensive on #Idlib.

12hrs of on/off air & artillery strikes vs. southeastern & western #Idlib & northern #Hama - see marks on map (original by @ETANA_Syria + my additions).

+ multiple large pro-regime convoys moving north.
@ETANA_Syria #pt: If/when any major military campaign gets underway, expect the #Assad regime (+ #Russia & #Iran-backed militias) to focus on these 2 fronts:

1) West #Idlib (Jisr al-Shughour)
2) N. #Hama/#SE #Idlib (Latamineh, Khan Sheikhoun, Kafrazita)

-> a gradual push ‘inland’ & north.
@ETANA_Syria Very good by @theIRC’s @DMiliband:

- The West must “re-assert” itself & protect civilians in NW #Syria & as a backstop, safe-routes should be opened for civilians to flee into #Turkey.

- UNSC must demand full access to S #Syria; for aid, monitoring etc.

washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-w…
Read 83 tweets

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