Thread by @TimInHonolulu

@IDF needs to understand that they are likely dealiing with ISIS 2.0 that was likely trained and equipped in Turkey with Qatari money. I observed the hostage situation in Raqqa and this is likely to be similar. First, women commanders are better at this work.

https://twitter.com/LisaMirandoCNN/status/1711494934438535216

And if you don't use women commanders you risk war crimes and making things worse. Second, you need to consider all the hostages will be killed no matter what you do. If this group is who I think they are

they will blow themselves up before letting anyone go. I hope I'm wrong but all signs point to Turkey's ISIS forces and they are seeking Armageddon not any peaceful outcome. Third, you need to not indiscriminately destroy the city. Identify where the hostages are held.

Assess the size of force holding them and the number of hostages. Isolate the buildings and expect that they have pre-prepared tunnels and other means of escape. Seal it up tight with remote and active surveillance. Start trying to talk to them.

Make it clear they will not get out. This is the point where you will start to be able to confirm my fear that it is ISIS. If it is they will start killing and there is nothing you can do to stop it short of bringing the building down in hopes that some hostages may survive.

If I'm correct Erdogan and Qatari officials are calling the shots. They need to be informed that they will be considered legitimate targets by Israel if they don't immediately call the terrorist to release the hostages. The US has to expose Erdogan. And the deal we have with

Qatar is a deal with the devil. We can move our force to AANES and grant it status as the only functioning government in that region and let Qatar know that State Sponsor of Terror listing is coming for them and Turkey. You need to wake up the the fact that

you don't even know who the enemy is you're fighting. I earlier posted the need to DNA test all the fighters dead or alive. Until you do you have no possibility of successfully dealing with them. If this is ISIS 2.0 you need to get ready for the carnage. But don't destroy

more of the city than needed. And women in uniform are calming for women and children. I've witnessed it for years in Syria. @SecBlinken can act to privately express that any HAMAS supporting nations will face terrorist support listings. Talks in private need to be done and make

it clear there will be no military action from the US but economic sanctions will be crushing for anyone supporting HAMAS that has now graduated to the degree of brutality that will not permit their survival or business as usual with their facilitators.