In Jan 2018, Turkish forces launched Op Olive Branch in #Afrin which saw indiscriminate attacks killing "scores of civilians" & leaving more than 160K IDPs. In this open source case, we found a component of the offensive was Italian-made T129 ATAK helis. #ItalianArms Thread 👇
We investigated hours of video content to analyse the destructive use of the Italian T129 in #Syria's Afrin. Here @thomassmulder geolocated this video () - goo.gl/maps/K7nraY94K… 2/
This T129 firing in #Syria's #Afrin was part of an offensive which saw "vulnerable civilians facing displacement and death because of the way Turkey’s latest offensive is being conducted" - one which #Turkey's President Erdoğan declared 'a siege' that 'would cut external aid' 3/
The deal for the Italian-made Leonardo T129 combat helicopters was confirmed in 2008 and at least 10 of them were shipped to Turkey between then and 2017. #ItalianArms@LHreportsjamestown.org/program/turkey… 4/
In our social media dive @trbrtc and @LeoneHadavi at #ItalianArms were able to identify the characteristics of the T129, where they were used, and how often they were used. We could also see on @instagram that training was provided by #Italian pilots. @LHreports@bellingcat 5/
Another video we found showed the destructive capacity of this Italian-made weapon system as it fired into a possible YPG outpost. We were able to geolocate this video to Ma‘mal Ūshāghī in #Afrin, #Syriagoo.gl/maps/Lya2SAsyc…#ItalianArms 6/
To find the location of this video (), we had clues in the footage: in the bottom right we have the military grid reference system (h/t @Timmi_Allen, @RawanSSA18 & @trbrtc), and in the top of the image we have an indication of direction. #ItalianArms 7/
The T129 fired upon the buildings on this ridgeline (goo.gl/maps/BPoMVv2Aj…). @trbrtc found the rocky outcrop isn't represented on maps, but we can see the shadows it provides, which indicates its depth. To find more defined shadows, we can scroll back through @googleearth. 8/
By altering levels in the screenshots of the infrared video, we can analyse some of the components easily and identify straight, unnatural lines. In this case, they represent the outline of the buildings present on the crest on the mountain. #IMINT@bellingcat#ItalianArms 9/
The results of this investigation we carried out as part open source workshop & part #EUArms investigation were published with Italian investigative media @reportrai3 (you can view in English here: ) 10/ #ItalianArms@LHreports
In this video, we also have some clues that would match its 'jigsaw piece' on @googleearth, namely, we can see the empty space, road, orchard and houses. If you are up for an open source challenge, give it a crack 🖖 #OSINT#ItalianArms@LHreports@bellingcat 12/
For the indication of direction, figures may represent a view that would point to 225 degrees. Accurate measurements can be made by downloading a transparent compass (google.com/url?sa=i&sourc…) and inserting it in GE as an image overlay. 13/
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Google Earth has updated its satellite imagery of many parts of Sudan. Looking over West Darfur city of El Geneina, I am shocked at the level of destruction. In some parts, whole areas have been destroyed and cleared. Location: 13.4469, 22.4151 (dates: April 2023 & March 2024)
The burn damage around El Geneina's specialised hospital is incredible.
It's not just the widespread burning of structures that we see in El Geneina, as a result of the ongoing violence in Sudan, but there are also clear indications of structures that have been removed, like these warehouses, located at 13.43324, 22.41364
This video, reportedly showing an Israeli woman kidnapped, beaten and taken into Gaza, was filmed from Al Shuja-iyyah St in Gaza at about 10am this morning.
Verification of the location can be confirmed through the location of the minaret in the background, white dome in the near ground, and then the angle of the orange roof in comparison to the street.
Location: 31.503462, 34.466569.
Shadows seen in the footage, indicate that the sun had to have been at a position to cast those shadows in line, or just off, the same angle as the street at 10am, or just before 10am.
Lots of smoke rising over the skyline of Khartoum today as clashes continue between RSF and SAF forces in different areas of the city.
People in Sudan have shared these flyers in a plea for help over what's happening with a water purification plant that services a lot of Khartoum with clean water.
It has been badly damaged and safe access needs to be granted to allow for repairs to be made to the plant.
The water treatment plant in Bahri appears to have been damaged in the initial wave of bombings in Khartoum. In satellite imagery on Google Earth from April 15 we can see a fire in the area, imagery from @planet on April 19 published by @hrw at least one building damaged.
The findings are based on data collected from Twitter and Telegram, looking at more than 1585 accounts and 480 channels and running follow up searches on numerous platforms.
Data was collected using keywords: Khokhols, Hohols and iterations used as anti-Ukrainian national slurs
The terms were selected given their prominence in Google Search trends. For example, the screenshot below shows the increase in the search of the term Khokhol which surged significantly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Last week I spoke at @journalismfest on how open-source intelligence is used to combat propaganda and uncover new information during Russia's war on Ukraine. Thank you for having me.
I promised to share a list of links to tools and sources. Here it is (I hope it helps) 👇
I often share digital investigation skills, cases and sources at events to help remotely answer core questions such as:
WHERE & WHEN did it happen?
WHAT happened?
WHO is responsible?
And HOW can it be visualised?
So let's start with the case studies.
1: EyesonRussia.org - our community effort to document, verify and map Russia's invasion of Ukraine and share this info with the world.
This is a running thread of satellite imagery showing the destruction seen in Turkey and Syria in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes. #turkeyearthquake2023