Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #Baghuz
Most recents (15)
1. The only way to stop the #Iranians from threatening our force in #Syria is to slam the door at #Baghuz. But that's the border and taking a border crossing is a big deal. We are with the #SDF on the other side of the Euphrates but the SDF has to deal with the
2. Russians because Tяump betrayed them by surrendering to #Erdogan. @POTUS kept status quo with Turkey - still murdering #SDF. #Israel approaches political disintegration so #Putin & #Iran think it's good time use #Kremlin's caucus of @HouseGOP to help them take all of #Syria.
3. #ISIS is still very active on the west side of the #Euphrates next to the Iranians. We should get them all out but past and present policies have a price and ours is that we have to do this with US and/or other partner forces because of @SecBlinken's misguided #Turkey policy.
NEW: Guilty verdict for a #Brooklyn #NewYork man who joined #ISIS, rising through the ranks to become one of the terror group's emirs
Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, now 46, was convicted yesterday on all 5 counts against him, per @TheJusticeDept
Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, now 46, was convicted yesterday on all 5 counts against him, per @TheJusticeDept
Asainov had been charged with:
-conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS
-providing ISIS expert advice/assistance/weapons
-receipt of military-type training
-obstruction of justice
-material support to #ISIS that resulted in the death of 1 or more person
-conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS
-providing ISIS expert advice/assistance/weapons
-receipt of military-type training
-obstruction of justice
-material support to #ISIS that resulted in the death of 1 or more person
Asainov "was so committed to the terrorist organization’s evil cause that he abandoned his young family...to make an extraordinary journey to the battlefield" per US Atty Breon Peace
"... & even after being captured still pledged his allegiance to ISIS’ murderous path"
"... & even after being captured still pledged his allegiance to ISIS’ murderous path"
1. I began reporting on the war against #Daesh in #Syria starting at the same time I began reporting on the #Russian invasion of #Ukraine. 2014. I covered #Kobane to #Baghuz in 2019. You cannot fight a war with a psychotic brutal enemy who does not follow the law of armed
2. conflict in a light way. You have to seek out and destroy the enemy. Best is while they are sleeping using artillery. The ones that remain alive, won't be sleeping and will become less able to conduct effective operations. HIMARS are great. But tube artillery is can be
We served in the USG.
We have specific questions for reporters, Congress, public to ask about March 2019 airstrike that reportedly killed several dozen civilians.
I teamed up with @rosen_br @LukeHartig @bridgewriter
#Baghuz #Baghouz
justsecurity.org/79218/question…
We have specific questions for reporters, Congress, public to ask about March 2019 airstrike that reportedly killed several dozen civilians.
I teamed up with @rosen_br @LukeHartig @bridgewriter
#Baghuz #Baghouz
justsecurity.org/79218/question…
2. A highlight:
"31. Why did DOD fail to report the assessed four civilian casualties in its 2019 or 2020 civilian casualty reports to Congress?"
2019 report:
media.defense.gov/2020/May/06/20…
2020 report (released in 2021):
media.defense.gov/2021/Aug/05/20…
No March 18, 2019 strike listed.👇
"31. Why did DOD fail to report the assessed four civilian casualties in its 2019 or 2020 civilian casualty reports to Congress?"
2019 report:
media.defense.gov/2020/May/06/20…
2020 report (released in 2021):
media.defense.gov/2021/Aug/05/20…
No March 18, 2019 strike listed.👇
3. Another highlight:
"27. CENTCOM stated that the strikes using 500- and 2000-pound bombs 'were proportional due to the unavailability of smaller ordinance at the time.” That is not a recognizable version of the standard of proportionality. Can DOD clarify?"
ASTOUNED by this.
"27. CENTCOM stated that the strikes using 500- and 2000-pound bombs 'were proportional due to the unavailability of smaller ordinance at the time.” That is not a recognizable version of the standard of proportionality. Can DOD clarify?"
ASTOUNED by this.
NEW: 2 more US citizens captured by #Syria|n Democratic Forces after joining #ISIS have been transferred to @FBI custody
53yo Emraan Ali & his son, 19yo Jihad Ali, appeared in federal court Wednesday, per @TheJusticeDept
53yo Emraan Ali & his son, 19yo Jihad Ali, appeared in federal court Wednesday, per @TheJusticeDept
Its here - the ISW report warning that #ISIS is back in #Iraq & #Syria
From me with @thestudyofwar’s Brandon Wallace & Jason Zhou
Full report available online here: understandingwar.org/report/isiss-s…
Key points & graphics to follow
1/
From me with @thestudyofwar’s Brandon Wallace & Jason Zhou
Full report available online here: understandingwar.org/report/isiss-s…
Key points & graphics to follow
1/
#ISIS's "remnants" are much stronger than al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI/ISI) was when US forces withdrew from Iraq in 2011
ISIS has ~30K fighters. AQI had ~1K
ISIS has relatively intact leadership; AQIs was decimated
This chart gives a rough overall comparison (sources in report)
2/
ISIS has ~30K fighters. AQI had ~1K
ISIS has relatively intact leadership; AQIs was decimated
This chart gives a rough overall comparison (sources in report)
2/
1) BREAKING: #ISIS’ Furqan issues new video showing leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, marking the first time he is shown in a video since his July 2014 sermon at the Great Mosque in #Mosul
2) The video shows Baghdadi in a casual conversational setting with others (their faces blurred). He talks about war against "Crusaders" and about battles in #Baghouz #Syria being over, indicating that this interview was filmed somewhat recently.
3) In the vid, titled “In the Hospitality of the Emir of the Believers,” Baghdadi praises #SriLanka attackers over images of the attackers/attack (though not in the visual interview section; the audio may have thus been added via a later recording)--calling it revenge for Baghouz
1. Since #IS issued its #SriLanka claim, there's been lots of discussion on a) whether it inspired/directed the attackers and b) whether it was in response to #Christchurch. These are interesting, important discussions to have, but we mustn't lose sight of the wood for the trees.
2. It is critical that we think about the overarching logic behind this attack, not just what happened and how it happened. I’ll be doing that over the next few tweets.
3. First of all, it is important to state that an attack like this has been coming for a lonnng time and #IS/#IS supporters are certain to have others planned. It was not just a response to #Christchurch (and nor will future attacks be).
When will the Syrian people be able to live in peace? Syria 8 years of invasion, suffering, torture, deaths, biggest refugee crisis, destruction, wasn’t enough for you, US-led Coalition?
#Síria #USLedCoalition #USWarCrimes #WarCrimes #USCrimesAgainstHumanity
#USTerrorism #Terror
#Síria #USLedCoalition #USWarCrimes #WarCrimes #USCrimesAgainstHumanity
#USTerrorism #Terror
Breaking: Several 'enemy airstrikes' target the Syrian military in northern Aleppo aml.ink/F8qb2
#ISIS down "less than a single square mile” in #Baghuz #Syria, @CENTCOM Cmdr Gen Joseph Votel to tell #HASC in prepared remarks
[ON THE GROUND]
Two days ago we yet again witnessed huge numbers of people streaming out of #Baghouz, this time during the night.
Two days ago we yet again witnessed huge numbers of people streaming out of #Baghouz, this time during the night.
The press pack were greeted by an eerie ambience on their arrival as hundreds of silhouettes moved across the desert and into custody of the #SDF.
These ghostlike figures, shadows of their former selves, made an apt metaphor for the failed state they had just left; exhausted and defeated but not without defiance, promising to renew the 'dawla' as soon as they can.
A quick thread on a human moment I saw on the side of a dusty road in eastern Syria today.
This is Karam, a 19-year-old from Mosul, who is among the thousands of women and children who emerged from ISIS’s final territory in #Baghuz in recent days.
That’s her one-year-old daughter Habiba in her arms. Habiba’s father is a Tajik ISIS fighter who stayed behind in Baghuz.
[ON THE GROUND]
Today ISIS blocked people from exiting their holdout in #Baghouz, slowing the ongoing efforts by #SDF to extract civilians and proceed with the final operation.
Transports sent to extract civilians and surrendering fighters came back empty.
Today ISIS blocked people from exiting their holdout in #Baghouz, slowing the ongoing efforts by #SDF to extract civilians and proceed with the final operation.
Transports sent to extract civilians and surrendering fighters came back empty.
Clashes and airstrikes around the #ISIS-controlled tent area in #Baghouz continued through the day.
There is significant air activity in the region tonight, both bombers and helicopters.
[Pictures #Baghuz today]
There is significant air activity in the region tonight, both bombers and helicopters.
[Pictures #Baghuz today]
YPG press office has released footage of some of these strikes:
1. In other news, the battle rages on against #IS's last pocket of territory in #Syria. Looks like there’s about a square kilometre left. This pic (via @NotWoofers) was reportedly taken from inside it today.
2. Although #IS has been pretty vocal about what’s happening elsewhere (think #Nigeria/#Yemen/#Iraq), there's not been a peep from it about #Baghuz since Tuesday.
Usually in this context (think #Raqqa, #Mosul and #Hajin), radio silence is a sign that it has given up.
Usually in this context (think #Raqqa, #Mosul and #Hajin), radio silence is a sign that it has given up.
3. That being said, #IS is set to publish its newspaper tonight. Let’s see what it has in store.
Where does #SDF keep captured #ISIS terrorists and their families?
This thread will explore SDF detention facilities in northern Syria that have been running well beyond their capacity after an influx of surrendered #ISIS fighters.
This thread will explore SDF detention facilities in northern Syria that have been running well beyond their capacity after an influx of surrendered #ISIS fighters.
The main six prisons are located in #Hasaka province and contain around 2700 people, the major part being male #ISIS terrorists. Fighters and their families enjoy some minor perks compared to other inmates such as members of SDF detained for dereliction of duty, corruption, etc.
There's more to these perks, it will be covered later in the thread.
