Nicholas A Heras

@NicholasAHeras

Middle East Security Fellow . RT does not necessarily equal endorsement.

Joined June 2015
214 Photos and videos Photos and videos

You may also like

·

Tweets

You blocked

Are you sure you want to view these Tweets? Viewing Tweets won't unblock

  1. Pinned Tweet
    Jul 26

    The campaign medal given to fighters after the Battle of Baghouz. Over the course of the campaign against , the has lost more than 11,000 martyrs and 22,000 wounded. Overall, 1 in 5 SDF fighters mobilized, have been killed. This sacrifice should never be forgotten.

    14 replies 169 retweets 289 likes
  2. Retweeted
    17 minutes ago

    UPDATE from : "The Coalition continues a deliberate withdrawal of forces from northern Syria & will reposition some forces to the Deir ez Zor region..." with SDF to defeat ISIS. The addition of mechanized national guard "provides infantry, maneuverability & firepower."

    2 replies 9 retweets 2 likes
  3. Retweeted
    2 hours ago

    Head of the SDF's political wing Ilhem Ahmed, today: • SDF will help fight ISIS only if Pentagon stops Turkish incursion • SDF has been told US will stay in Syria, but "why, and for what, is not clear." • SDF wants int'l forces on the Turkey-Syria border, DoD no-fly zone

    4 replies 92 retweets 121 likes
  4. 2 hours ago

    3/Chatter that DoD won't be the "'s lobbyist anymore." If this is the case it would seem that is swimming against a strengthening riptide of a policy that's going to pull the out of the and the U.S. into Deir Azzour with just the local tribes.

    2 replies 22 retweets 29 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
  5. 2 hours ago

    2/Chatter that the new view is that the is nice to have in the fold but that the relationship with it was "always destined to be temporary, transactional, and tactical." Implication being that it's time to unwind the relationship with it in and get on board.

    5 replies 17 retweets 18 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
  6. 2 hours ago

    1/Might be too late. Chatter is there's agreement between DoD/State on policy position that it's time to focus on the "Arab elements of the " in E. and refocus on the "original mission" of the SDF which from that view is to build up local Arab forces to counter .

    Strong words from Ahmed: "We hold the Pentagon responsible for all the crimes committed by Turkey" if continue to allow Ankara to use Syrian air space. She called for a no fly zone in all of the eastern Euphrates area
    Show this thread
    8 replies 22 retweets 29 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
  7. 4 hours ago

    3/And this one: “We don’t need armor against , but it will definitely help deter the the regime, the from trying to get into that part of ." Seems there's concern then at DoD that contrary to what says, would take the oil? 🤔

    1 retweet 9 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
  8. 4 hours ago

    2/There's some rather interesting quotes here. Such as, "Keeping the flag flying in that area is important to let the know that we’re not completely walking away from them." Weird to say that when 's invasion of N/E hasn't stopped and the US has done nothing.

    2 replies 10 retweets 20 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
  9. 4 hours ago

    1/Good detail by on what U.S. forces are now expected to do in E .

    2 replies 9 retweets 13 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
  10. Retweeted
    4 hours ago

    "The American military saw what could be done with local, indigenous fighters who had a will to fight hard, take instruction, and were trusted not to shoot U.S. forces in the back." - tells the . More:

    1 reply 4 retweets 3 likes
  11. Retweeted
    6 hours ago

    conducts first patrol since pullback |

    2 replies 64 retweets 131 likes
  12. Retweeted
    7 hours ago

    . troops in 4-118th Infantry Regiment, , attached to the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, , load M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to support the mission in Deir ez Zor, Syria.

    69 replies 294 retweets 497 likes
  13. Retweeted
    9 hours ago

    Turkey has not adhered to the ceasefire agreement with USA and is continuing its war. Turkey with Jihadists, began to occupying Christian villages and trying to break into Tall Tamir predominantly Assyriens,threatened with annihilation. USA must fulfill its obligations.

    391 replies 2,268 retweets 4,855 likes
  14. Retweeted
    7 hours ago

    NEW: confirms to that Bradley Fighting Vehicles and infantry troops have arrived in Dayr Az Zawr, Syria near the oil fields. They’re from the South Carolina NG’S 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team.

    4 replies 25 retweets 18 likes
  15. Retweeted
    5 hours ago

    “"If you let the come to America, all of them would come," Ali [name changed] claims. He says this in Kurdish. At age 33, he is finally free to speak his language without fear.”

    2 replies 3 retweets 12 likes
  16. Retweeted
    8 hours ago

    “The question is how expansive is the goal and how much pressure is the U.S. allowing Russia and Assad?” - speaks with about the decision to keep some American forces in eastern Syria:

    8 retweets 6 likes
  17. Retweeted
    18 hours ago

    Turkey is ethnically cleansing Christians in Tel Tamr under US air cover. Why is letting this happen?

    56 replies 506 retweets 1,024 likes
  18. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    Recall that about six of the 33 original Assyrian Khabur villages lie to north of Tell Tamir near the M4, the rest are to the south. Tragic indeed considering that these are direct descendants of survivors of 2015 attack, the Ottoman Genocide in 1915, Simele in 1933.

    The small Christian population that managed to survive ISIS are now fleeing their homes in Khabur area near Til Temir due to Turkish attacks. On the day the House voted to recognize Armenian Genocide, another genocide…
    16 replies 209 retweets 294 likes
  19. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    In a new video circulating in messaging groups, Turkey backed armed factions are seen forcing a group of men to imitate animal sounds. Sources say these are civilians from Tal Tamir area

    63 replies 488 retweets 504 likes
  20. 16 hours ago

    When you support 's invasion of N/E and try to rehabilitate the image of its rebel proxies, what you are really doing is providing cover for a -led campaign against ethnic and sectarian minorities in this diverse region.

    0:12
    Aram Hanna, a member of the General Command, says Turkish backed groups "are moving from Abo Rasen side and trying to cut the road between Tel Tamer and Abo Rasen and to effect Tel Tamer Ras al…
    Show this thread
    3 replies 68 retweets 108 likes
  21. Retweeted
    20 hours ago

    "Syrian Kurds and other Syrians" So this is for all the SDF. Not just Kurdish SDF fighters.

    The Syrian Kurds have stood side-by-side the United States, risking their lives in the fight against ISIS. They deserve our gratitude.…
    10 replies 76 retweets 205 likes
  22. 16 hours ago

    For all of the team's supposed concern for in the Middle East, it's actually standing aside and allowing and its rebel proxies (Radical Islamists mostly) to attack local Christians in N/E , at will. Hypocrisy (JC talked about that a lot).

    Just now from northern Syria: Military Council, MFS repelled two attacks of invading forces in Derdara village, north-east of Tel Tamir. Situation is calm, under control now.
    8 replies 24 retweets 31 likes
  23. Retweeted
    22 hours ago

    Dhi Qar, south Iraq. Protesters recite a famous Muharram eulogy. For the government, this is even more frightening than had they be waving ISIS flags. Protesters are turning powerful Shia symbolism, long exploited by the ruling Islamists, against the powers that be.

    10 replies 333 retweets 614 likes
  24. 16 hours ago

    The U.S. refuses to close the air space to air craft attacking the along the - border. Yet, the U.S. wants the SDF to continue to fight and die against in the MERV and help secure the oil. That seems like policy malpractice right there.

    25 replies 244 retweets 397 likes
  25. Retweeted
    16 hours ago

    "This is a tectonic shift. Essentially Trump is saying, instead of leaving Syria, he is willing to put more resources in a smaller part of Syria in order to hold down a restive oil fiefdom." - tells . More:

    2 retweets 6 likes
  26. Retweeted
    17 hours ago

    As the Department of Defense begins finalizing plans to move armored vehicles from Kuwait into Syrian territory, speaks with about the long-term implications. Read more:

    4 retweets 8 likes
  27. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    I join the Armenian American community in MA & the rest of the Armenian diaspora in celebrating the House passage of a resolution recognizing the . I cosponsored S.Res.150 to recognize this tragedy. The Senate should pass it now.

    80 replies 290 retweets 1,510 likes
  28. Retweeted
    21 hours ago

    At this Congressional Briefing I will speak about the Turkish military offensive in known as "Peace Spring." And Erdogan's plan to illegally deport Syrian from to Northeast Syria, a region most of them are not even from.

    The Center for Security, Race and RIghts is proud to announce that on November 6th we will be presenting our Syrian Refugee Policy Report at a Congressional Briefing with @IBoukadoum
    1 reply 8 retweets 18 likes
  29. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    SDF officials ays the "the small Christian population that managed to survive ISIS are now fleeing their homes in Khabur area near Til Temir due to Turkish attacks. " "On the day the House voted to recognize Armenian Genocide, another genocide is just starting."

    5 replies 181 retweets 242 likes
  30. 19 hours ago

    So, if you want to learn more about the Arabs in the , I recommend you follow . She's done the most comprehensive field work in N/E on the subject. I heard through the grapevine there's a lot of attention being paid to that subject at the moment.

    1 reply 9 retweets 24 likes
  31. Retweeted
    20 hours ago

    NE Syrian airspace is owned by the US. It has been open to Turkish aircrafts since Oct. 9 for Turkish army and its jihadists to attack the region (21 days). No cease fire, humanitarian situation has sharply deteriorated. People are undergoing an ethnic cleansing campaign by TR.

    53 replies 966 retweets 1,479 likes
  32. 21 hours ago

    is squeezing the because it knows that without the YPG backbone, the collapses in , which means the U.S.-led Coalition has no effective local partner to hold 's oil resources. The U.S. "Arab SDF" plan for Deir Azzour is very shaky right now.

    9 replies 86 retweets 151 likes
  33. Retweeted
    22 hours ago

    Acc. , Russia is “acting in bad faith and will allow Turkey to continue to expand as a message to the SDF & the U.S. that Moscow calls the shots in Syria and that Trump cannot hold Syrian oil with the support of the SDF.” By

    1 reply 60 retweets 62 likes
  34. Retweeted
    24 hours ago

    After Secretary Esper announced that American forces would remain in Syria to prevent ISIS fighters from capturing local oil fields, speaks with the about how the potential consequences for the SDF:

    6 retweets 7 likes
  35. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    We can also confirm reports that SAA forces are withdrawing from fronts around Dirbesiyeh and Amude, to the east of Sere Kaniye and next in line for the Turkish invasion. SDF handed these fronts over to SAA while withdrawing from the border zone per the ceasefire agreement.

    Two sources in Til Temir confirm that Syrian Army forces are leaving their positions close to the city, crossing through the city on their way south and east.…
    4 replies 79 retweets 66 likes
  36. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    (1/2) Update from yesterday here in northeastern . We continue to help and appeal to the US to stand with those under attack here. There have been too many displaced, too many wounded, and too many killed already.

    42 replies 387 retweets 723 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
  37. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    This is not a good sign. Turkey keeps on pushing in North Syria border area while Russia, at least for the time being, is not willing to stand up for the Syrian army/SDF. My take: Russia is annoyed by continuing cooperation between SDF and the U.S. forces in East Syria.

    Syrian regime forces withdraw from Tal Tamr and Derbasiyah villages
    15 replies 214 retweets 343 likes
  38. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    This is what the ceasefire in North Syria looks like today. Civilians in Tal Tamer which is controlled by SDF/ Syrian army are fleeing. There is fear that Turkey & its Syrian proxies are heading from Ras al-Ayn in southern direction towards Tal Tamer.

    77 replies 1,208 retweets 1,205 likes
  39. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    Syrian military deployed to these areas and then once the SDF withdrew, they began withdrawing. IMO: seems to be a deal between Turkey and Russia.

    15 replies 52 retweets 94 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
  40. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    No resistance. Seems to be some kind of Russia-Turkey deal. Syrian soldiers not given information.

    12 replies 51 retweets 73 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread
  41. Retweeted
    Oct 30

    Just got word: Syrian Army has mostly pulled troops from Al-Derbasiyah, Amuda, and Al-Malkiyah. Russian MP pulled too.

    16 replies 111 retweets 167 likes
    Show this thread
    Show this thread