Thread by @jenanmoussa

1/ After recent gains by Syrian regime, all eyes now on Idlib.

Via intermediary I got in touch with 3 European jihadists in Idlib. I sent my questions+fixer to Idlib.

Jihadists expect an attack &say they'll fight till end.

My story, English subtitles.👇

2/ It's difficult to reach foreign jihadists in Idlib. And even more difficult to record interviews with them.

The 3 foreign fighters in Idlib I got in touch with via intermediary are from Holland (2) &from Belgium (1).

They've been in Syria 5+ yrs.

#EuroJihadists

@akhbar

3/ The foreign jihadists in Idlib answered my questions in Dutch &Flemish. They also know Arabic.

Their (jihadi) names are: Abu Mohammad alHollandi, Abu Zubair alHolandi & Abu Abdul Rahman alBelgiki.

Here is same story but with Arabic subtitles. @akhbar

4/ All three jihadists only wanted to go on camera if their faces were covered.

They don't want their families in Europe to face possible negative consequences after they appear on tv.

#EuroJihadists

@akhbar

5/ Due to the huge risk of getting kidnapped in lawless Idlib, it was impossible for me to enter Idlib myself.

Already for years now, Idlib is more or less off limits to journalists. This is the reason why I worked for this story with a Syrian fixer.

#EuroJihadists

@akhbar

6/ By the way, something came up. I have to go now. I will be offline for the next couple of hours.

Will come back later today to update this thread and tell you more about my interviews with the European jihadists in Idlib.

@akhbar

7/ Now something more on what the three European jihadists in Idlib said in the interviews.

Most significantly, they all expect that Idlib will be attacked. According to them defensive lines have been set up to counter Syrian gov offensive.

#EuroJihadists

@akhbar

8/ Acc to the 3 European jihadists, the fight for Idlib will be different from Dara'a (where opposition largely surrendered)

a/ Contrary to Dara'a, Idlib has "10.000+ foreign fighters" (Muhajireen).

b/ HTS/ex-Nusra is stongest in Idlib."

#EuroJihadists

@akhbar

9/ However, our sources tell us that some foreign fighters in Idlib are actually trying to leave Idlib before the big battle.

They are trying to make deals with their gov's to return. These 3 jihadists claim they will fight till death but who knows what others will do?

@akhbar

10/ Interestingly European jihadists in Idlib say HTS (former Nusra) is most powerful opposition group in Idlib. But HTS not only viewed by Syrian gov +Russians as terrorists, also U.S. considers HTS continuation of Jabhat al Nusra, Al-Qaeda's affiliate in Syria.

#EuroJihadists

11/ This has left HTS inside Idlib with plenty of enemies.

The three European jihadists say they have nothing to do with Al-Qaeda & deny being terrorists. According to them, they are only helping "oppressed Syrians" inside Idlib.

#EuroJihadists

@akhbar

12/ The threat against foreign jihadists doesn't only come from outside Idlib but also from inside.

In Idlib some rebel groups would like to get rid of foreign jihadists.

This because without foreign extremists, Syria &Russia have less reasons to launch Idlib attack.

@akhbar

13/ So acc to the Belgian jihadist, foreign fighters had meeting with military leaders in Idlib to get guarantees that foreign fighters in Idlib won't be betrayed &won't be sold out to foreign powers. Acc to Belgian jihadist, they got those guarantees.

#EuroJihadists

@akhbar

14/ Dutch jihadist also hinted at Syrian groups who want to get rid of foreign fighters.

But he said "HTS is doing utmost best to protect "foreign fighters (muhajireen) from plots by foreign intelligence agencies or from groups who work with foreign agenda."

#EuroJihadists

15/ Although all three European jihadist were members in the past of Jabhat al Nusra (and the Belgian fighter even for a while was member of ISIS), they all now claim to be "independent".

So according to them, they aren't member of HTS now.

#EuroJihadists

@akhbar

16/ So I asked them what "independent" means?

I am paraphrasing now but basically it means they are part of a small group of foreign fighters (10-30 fighters, often from same country) who offer their military services to any group who needs it to fight Syrian army.

@akhbar

17/ So these small "independent" groups temporarily join HTS, Huras al Din, Turkistanis, Jaish al Ahrar or Jaish al Izza in case these groups need fighters.

This way the foreign jihadists fight but stay out of political/religious bickering &rivalry between main groups.

@akhbar

18/ Presence of HTS +foreign fighters in Idlib is a complicating factor in solving situation there.

Also Idlib is part of de-escalation agreement between Russia-Turkey. Nobody knows exactly what will happen. But the 3 foreign fighters claim they're ready to die in Syria.

19/ That's it from me on the interview of European jihadists in Idlib, Syria.

Sorry for long thread. Hope it was helpful.

Please go to the beginning of this thread to get full interview with both English & Arabic subtitles.

Thank you for your attention.

#EuroJihadists

20/ After yesterday's story, most of my Twitter mentions are now in Dutch and Flemish.

Glad to see that my story reached you all. Great that the local media picked it up too.

I am on assignment now in an interesting country. Soon new stories.

21/ For those interested, I also spoke to @brunostruys from the Belgian newspaper @demorgen about my interview with European Jihadists in Idlib, Syria. Check link.
demorgen.be/buitenland/jou…