Jens Hittrien

@JensHittrien

Criminologist independently observing Syrian conflict. Bridging between OSINT reporting & journalism, flavoured with proper thoughts.

Belgium
Joined February 2015
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  1. 20 minutes ago

    Interesting undertone in 's article on SNA factions. That of the budgetary reluctance Turkey is displaying towards the fighters it supports, in contrast with the recently adapted professional image of the former. An indication of its fate?

    1 reply 2 retweets 6 likes
  2. 23 hours ago

    👇

    If you know valuable accounts that are likely to be deleted, I highly recommend archiving as much of their content as possible. This will be extra important with conflict-related accounts because many users posting unique info have died, are in prisons or became refugees. …
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  3. 24 hours ago

    With this action Twitter will potentially remove 100's of old Twitter accounts documenting the Syrian uprising. This undoubtedly means a significant share of Syria's revolutionary history will end up in the dust bin, exposing it to postfactual interpretation.

    CONFIRMED: Twitter will remove inactive accounts and free up usernames in December
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    3 replies 57 retweets 90 likes
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  4. Nov 27

    Note: this is meant as a brief and non-exhaustive overview. It might contain some shortcomings or mistakes.

    11 likes
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  5. Nov 27

    The resurgence of insurgency: an overview. Not only Islamic State uses insurgency tactics. Since 2018 there is a wide array of active resistance cells popping up in different parts of Syria.

    5 replies 29 retweets 59 likes
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  6. Nov 26

    Several indications Russia is on a 'hearts and minds' campaign in Kobane: - Establishing of a medical point offering free medical services for locals ( ) - Visit of Russian delegation to Kobane local administration

    | نورث برس: مراسل نورث برس: أول زيارة رسمية روسية للإدارة الذاتية في كوباني...وفد روسي من لجنة الشؤون…
    2 retweets
  7. Retweeted
    Nov 25

    Come again, are you seriously advocating an incentives-based approach in dealing with the regime? Doing away with international law & and involuntarily promoting ?

    12/ Europe should continue its push for political change and could test an incentives-based approach toward reconstruction, such as the: ☛ Progressive lifting of sanctions…
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    1 reply 1 retweet 1 like
  8. Retweeted
    Nov 24

    11 Nov KNC leader Hakim al-Bashar (KDP-S) from posted a list of at least 6 conditions to be met before he could even accept the call for a United Kurdish Movement on his Facebook account:

    1 reply 1 retweet
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  9. Nov 22

    Behold the e-VBIED.

    Change the color of the Cybertruck a little and it looks like Abu 'Ilun al-Afriqi is taking a last prayer in front of his SVBIED before heading out to level some SAA base in Deir ez-Zor.
    1 retweet 5 likes
  10. Retweeted
    Nov 20

    My latest for looking at the |n Army deployments to the northeast - estimated strength and why each unit deployed where it did.

    1 reply 23 retweets 33 likes
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  11. Nov 22

    Russia probably already developed kind of a road book to end the conflict and maximise Russian interests in Syria, making use of the existing tracks. The partial US withdrawal and redeployment have proved that it rather is stiff, without much room for flexibility.

    1 retweet
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  12. Nov 22

    Russia was dragged out of its comfort zone by US' unexpected withdrawal out of parts of NE Syria. Now it seems the former is aiming for a status quo instead of abiding by the MuO reached with Turkey, stubbornly sticking with the existing tracks for Syria.

    1 reply 2 retweets 3 likes
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  13. Retweeted
    Nov 22

    Hard to catch up on women from escaping in . But all six identified now belong to same circle of early recruits. Makes security services think there must be a network in Belgium actively facilitating escape

    4 replies 47 retweets 32 likes
  14. Retweeted
    Nov 21

    9 Belgian IS women escaped Kurdish camps: this is who they are

    3 replies 39 retweets 54 likes
  15. Nov 20

    Russia keeps insisting it fulfilled the obligations of the Safe Zone MoU, rather aiming to maximise its leverage in (NE-) Syria by filling up the void caused by US' partial withdrawal than caring about Turkey's security concerns regarding YPG/PKK.

    1 reply
  16. Nov 19

    Israel also is targeting areas closer to the Israeli border now, where Hezbollah is trying to build influence for a while already.

    Israel says it struck "dozens of military targets of the Iranian Quds Force and the Syrian Armed Forces, including surface-to-air missiles, headquarters, weapons warehouses and military bases" overnight,…
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    2 retweets 2 likes
  17. Nov 19

    The reasoning behind this could be that US/SDF counter terrorism ops are draining expertise of IS cells to manufacture ied's & vehicle bombs, forcing them to seek other ways to wreck havoc. In areas with a high density of IS cells it is impossible to bring this expertise to zero.

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  18. Nov 19

    While attacks still are occurring in cities like Raqqa and Manbij, it is important to look at the type of attack. Conclusion: no vehicle bombs and ied's in Manbij and Tabqa since June and Raqqa since August.

    1 reply 1 like
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  19. Nov 19

    Looking at the stats and map, two kinds of areas can be distinguished. core areas (along the Euphrates) with a high density of attacks and peripheral areas (Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij Hasakah) where attacks occurs on a less frequent basis. The latter see a remarkable development.

    1 reply 2 likes
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  20. Nov 19

    Behind the numbers there is always the question: Do SDF/US counter terrorism operations result in a improvement of the security situation? In general: no. But there is some nuance in it.

    1 reply 3 retweets 12 likes
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  21. Retweeted
    Nov 18

    NEW MAP: quick graphic I did showing prominent volcanic terrain features of Syrian . Got the idea to make this observing the ping-pong on the Ras al-Ayn front, where TFSA control of the heights of Abdulsalam has proven a tough nut for SAA/SDF to crack without air cover.

    1 reply 18 retweets 35 likes
  22. Retweeted
    Nov 18

    SDF commander Mazloum Abdi was in Erbil earlier last week. He has met with KDP and PUK leaders; he has also met with leaders of ENKS (main Kurdish rival of PYD in Syria), according to local sources. But, it is unclear if the meetings have led to any tangible results.

    10 replies 81 retweets 163 likes
  23. Nov 18

    Throwing Molotov cocktails to a Turkish-Russia patrol might be fun to express anger with the measures taken, it also might be a stepping stone to a further escalation, depending on reaction of the latter.

    0:21
    Footage from the latest protest, provided to , shows stones and molotov cocktails striking a Turkish armoured vehicle, as local anger mounts against these joint patrols through previously peaceful countryside.
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  24. Retweeted
    Nov 17

    Turkey’s Deporting fighters and it’s forcing Europe to face a problem it’s far too long avoided - what to do with ISIS detainees. “All of the European countries have desperately been looking for a way to deal with them without bringing them back”

    2 replies 13 retweets 17 likes
  25. Retweeted
    Nov 14

    Syrian pound passes 700 to the dollar, for the first time. sees three reasons: (1) Lebanon's banking crisis, (2) the failure of a government-backed campaign to make investors sell dollars, (3) Trump's decision to hold on to the oil fields.

    1 reply 14 retweets 12 likes
  26. Retweeted
    Nov 17

    's new base at 's has at least three operational and one strategic objective. My latest

    3 replies 70 retweets 89 likes
  27. Nov 17

    Finally someone is pointing to the concept of demographic engineering without the pitfall of sectarianism and polarisation. Important notion.

    We reviewed various SNA militia Fbook pages, as well as nearly a dozen videos shared by Kurds from Ras al-Ayn now seeking refuge in Iraqi Kurdistan. Taken together, they present a picture of deliberate demographic…
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    1 reply 3 likes
  28. Nov 16

    Since weeks areas controlled by National Syrian Army are plagued by car bombs. Most of them hardly make distinctions between military and civilians, and practically none of them are claimed by any party.

    car bomb explosion hit city in northeast Aleppo, at least 12 civilians killed
    2 replies 2 retweets 2 likes
  29. Nov 14

    If my list of bookmarks would create an own account on here, I'm pretty sure it would attract at least as much followers as I have now. It literally has become a dump of interesting tweets awaiting fate; being picked up or forgotten and plunging into the bookmark dungeon.

  30. Nov 14

    Despite daily reports of fighters KIA, both Turkey/NSA & SAA/SDF seem to fight near Tal Tamer with the brakes on. The former does not seem to initiate an offensive intensive enough to achieve a permanent breakthrough. The latter are providing just enough effort to counter it.

    4 retweets 6 likes
  31. Retweeted
    Nov 13

    "A handful of international relief workers have returned to northeast Syria. International NGOs have relaunched many of their activities through a system of remote management that places greater responsibility on Syrian staff." (1)

    1 reply 21 retweets 40 likes
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  32. Nov 13

    Russia has started to move air defence systems from Hmeim airbase to Qamisli airport. Another sign it may be turned in a second air base in Syria for the country. To see whether this will be permanent.

    5 retweets 4 likes
  33. Retweeted
    Nov 13

    Thread: Situation in the al-Hol camp is worse since NGO‘s withdrew from NE Syria due to Turkey’s incursion. Camp authorities say the water supply has declined significantly, and medical clinics can handle only about 10% of demand.

    2 replies 64 retweets 65 likes
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  34. Nov 13

    highlights some caveats and the consequences of it.

    Quick thread on the new poll regarding the Turkish invasion (replacing an older one): Interesting survey, some caveats apply:…
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  35. Nov 13

    I will not go too much in detail about it, but you find out for yourself.

    1 reply 2 retweets 5 likes
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  36. Nov 13

    Though the Gallup poll has a lot of interesting and correct conclusions, be careful not to generalise the results to the whole of NE-Syria. Although it is claimed the sample is weighed, it does not guarantee a solid representation for the whole of the region.

    Some very interesting and (to me at least) unexpected findings in this Gallup opinion poll in northern . Sure to also ruffle some feathers in an otherwise sober, balanced debate about Kurds, Arabs, and Turkey in Syria. …
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    2 replies 4 retweets 13 likes
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  37. Retweeted
    Nov 13

    Situation in is escalating from different angels, ISIS is starting to be active again making the security situation more fragile, also the civilians keeps on protesting against the backed militias and presence and influence in the province

    مظاهرات الان في بلدات تل شهاب والعجمي وزيزون تطالب بالافراج عن المعتقلين وطرد حزب الله اللبناني التابع لإيران من محافظة
    13 retweets 18 likes
  38. Retweeted
    Nov 12

    Insightful article examining how the regime is using the cover of the civil war to transfer public goods to private control, furthering an underlying dynamic of crony capitalism and kleptocracy that existed before the uprising:

    11 retweets 8 likes
  39. Retweeted
    Nov 12

    1. A KNC spox from the biggest bloc in the KNC told me Sunday evening that they have met (not in secret, there are pictures) and that they (KNC) told the PYD that they can go to the KRG (Iraqi Kurdistan) to play the role of mediation for the Kurdish rapprochement.

    If it's true that the & have met [in secret], how tragic that it took an invasion by to bring northern 's two leading Kurdish parties togethe…
    1 reply 6 retweets 4 likes
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  40. Nov 11

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