Wladimir

.@ThomasVLinge says Dutch backed groups Shamiya & Murad joined #Afrin offensive attacked YPG and Arab groups that were also part FSA. They were involved in looting, ethnic cleansing of Afrin, thousands people were displaced, and Kurdish civilians suddenly found refugees ...

.@ThomasVLinge says Shamiya/Murad other groups attacked neutral Kurdish neighbourhood Sheikh Maqsoud in past [2016 ???)], in which many civilians were killed, incl children

.@ThomasVLinge says Shamiya and other Turkish-backed groups fought against ISIS in Jarabulus, Marea, Bab.. But Shamiya and Sultan Murad did carry out war crimes: kidnapping, plundering, etc...

.@ThomasVLinge says Jahbat al-Shamiya is not listed as terrorist org by EU, US. But he says there was cooperation with extremists, Nusra and other groups. But not because of military necessity against Assad regime [in Aleppo] not ideology

.@ThomasVLinge says Jahbat al-Shamiya doesnt support caliphate, always nationalist flag of Syrian revolution. Not jihadist group. He says it was never part of Ahrar.

.@HaraldDoornbos says it was difficult for rebel groups that received Western support to not work with extremists. When they passed HTS/Qaida checkpoints with western weapons/support, they had to hand over 25 per cent.

.@HaraldDoornbos says only safe place for journalists was/is to visit Kurdish-held areas of YPG. he visited ras al ain manbij raqqa and other areas.. in rebel areas risk of kidnapping was too high

.@HaraldDoornbos says he never visited Syrian govt territory because its difficult to get visa for journlists

.@HaraldDoornbos Jamal Marouf told him moderate groups stronger Nusra, extremists were weak/nothing. Few months later, Al Qaida beat the group in one day.

.@HaraldDoornbos in 2014 I still visited rebel groups protected 25 rebels of Jamal Marouf group.... I was in the jeeps, anti aircraft... we could pass through all al Qaida checkpoints.. still rebels asked me... to masked myself the whole trip

.@HaraldDoornbos says it was too dangerous for journalists to go to northern Syria, even inside Turkey close to the border.

.@HaraldDoornbos says that Reyanli and Kilis were full with foreign Jihadists. There were so many, that sometimes hotels were full [in 2013]

According to Nikolaosvan Dam the West didnt support the rebels enough so they could win the war. Moreover, he says its impossible to solve a conflict without talking to all actors. He says West should talk Assad, apart from those you cant talk to like ISIS/Al Qaida.

Nikolaos (Koos) van Dam says he didn't meet Jahbat Shamiya 1 on 1. He says there was a track II meeting under Chatham House rules with 40-50 people, Shamiya was also there, in response to earlier Twitter discussion with @Charles_Lister

Follow Syria debate in Dutch parliament live here (dutch language) https://www.tweedekamer.nl/debat_en_vergadering/commissievergaderingen/details?id=2018A03897 …