Pieter Van Ostaeyen
@p-vanostaeyen.bsky.social
Historian & Arabist
Independent analyst on Jihadism, History, Arabic & Islamic Studies
Publications available via https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6691-1988
Independent analyst on Jihadism, History, Arabic & Islamic Studies
Publications available via https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6691-1988
Pinned
Hoe het jihadisme oprukt in de Sahel
YouTube video by Nieuwsuur
www.youtube.com
Dutch Media (Nieuwsuur) made an outstanding documentary on Jihadism in the Sahel based on interviews with me, @menastream.bsky.social , Ebenezer Obadare and Sekou, a hunted down Christian in Mali
Well worth 20 minutes of your time on this gloomy Saturday evening
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8gw...
Well worth 20 minutes of your time on this gloomy Saturday evening
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8gw...
Desperate Search for Missing Syrians Leads to Mass Graves
More than 100,000 people disappeared during the civil war. To bring closure to some of their families, the new government faces the challenging task of exhuming remains from scores of burial sites. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...
More than 100,000 people disappeared during the civil war. To bring closure to some of their families, the new government faces the challenging task of exhuming remains from scores of burial sites. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...
Desperate Search for Missing Syrians Leads to Mass Graves
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Desperate Search for Missing Syrians Leads to Mass Graves
More than 100,000 people disappeared during the civil war. To bring closure to some of their families, the new government faces the challenging task of exhuming remains from scores of burial sites. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...
More than 100,000 people disappeared during the civil war. To bring closure to some of their families, the new government faces the challenging task of exhuming remains from scores of burial sites. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/w...
Most alarming report on Somalia
Unless a new government of national unity or provisional authority holds genuine promise of better days to come, then Somalia’s future will be as dark as as-Shabaab’s black banner. africacenter.org/publication/...
Unless a new government of national unity or provisional authority holds genuine promise of better days to come, then Somalia’s future will be as dark as as-Shabaab’s black banner. africacenter.org/publication/...
November 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Most alarming report on Somalia
Unless a new government of national unity or provisional authority holds genuine promise of better days to come, then Somalia’s future will be as dark as as-Shabaab’s black banner. africacenter.org/publication/...
Unless a new government of national unity or provisional authority holds genuine promise of better days to come, then Somalia’s future will be as dark as as-Shabaab’s black banner. africacenter.org/publication/...
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Map from @liamkarr.bsky.social @criticalthreats.bsky.social showing the extent of JNIM's stranglehold of southern Mali, blockading fuel supplies coming from neighboring countries.
November 14, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Map from @liamkarr.bsky.social @criticalthreats.bsky.social showing the extent of JNIM's stranglehold of southern Mali, blockading fuel supplies coming from neighboring countries.
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
November 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Le Mali bientôt sous contrôle djihadiste ? Analyse d’une rhétorique alarmiste
Le Mali bientôt sous contrôle djihadiste ? Analyse d’une rhétorique alarmiste
Au Mali, les djihadistes du JNIM s’en prennent à l’approvisionnement en carburant de Bamako, mais de là à s’emparer de la ville et de l’ensemble du pays, il y a un pas qu’ils semblent encore très loin...
theconversation.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Le Mali bientôt sous contrôle djihadiste ? Analyse d’une rhétorique alarmiste
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
At the same time, Islamic State notices that the killings of Christians in Nigeria at their hands is still lower than what Christians suffer at the hands of ISCAP and IS Mozambique,and if the Americans now follow the Crusader logic, it's inevitable to clash in Congo and Moz too.
November 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
At the same time, Islamic State notices that the killings of Christians in Nigeria at their hands is still lower than what Christians suffer at the hands of ISCAP and IS Mozambique,and if the Americans now follow the Crusader logic, it's inevitable to clash in Congo and Moz too.
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
IS carefuly analyses the crisis, assuming the role of the main threat Trump and evangelicals in MAGA constantly ramble about. The org clearly wants to make it the way the Americans want - to simplify the conflict in Nigeria to maximum and cause quagmire.
November 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
IS carefuly analyses the crisis, assuming the role of the main threat Trump and evangelicals in MAGA constantly ramble about. The org clearly wants to make it the way the Americans want - to simplify the conflict in Nigeria to maximum and cause quagmire.
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
The Islamic State immediately reacts to the threat Trump issued against Nigeria as was bound to happen in such circumstances.
The Central organisation warns its African afiliates to take Trump seriously given how volatile and chaotic the US admins actions are. #Nigeria
The Central organisation warns its African afiliates to take Trump seriously given how volatile and chaotic the US admins actions are. #Nigeria
November 6, 2025 at 2:32 PM
The Islamic State immediately reacts to the threat Trump issued against Nigeria as was bound to happen in such circumstances.
The Central organisation warns its African afiliates to take Trump seriously given how volatile and chaotic the US admins actions are. #Nigeria
The Central organisation warns its African afiliates to take Trump seriously given how volatile and chaotic the US admins actions are. #Nigeria
Belgian security services are convinced Russia is behind the recent drone incidents over military bases and civilian airports www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/20...
Belgian security services convinced Russia is behind the drone incidents | VRT NWS: news
The Belgian security services are in little doubt about who is responsible for the drone incidents above Belgian civil airports and military bases: this is the work of Russia. VRT NEWS has learned thi...
www.vrt.be
November 5, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Belgian security services are convinced Russia is behind the recent drone incidents over military bases and civilian airports www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/20...
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Me, a scholar studying jihadism, whenever I hear someone call a politician a Marxist jihadi:
“Please use your theory of communist Islamist jihadism to explain this image.”
“Please use your theory of communist Islamist jihadism to explain this image.”
November 5, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Me, a scholar studying jihadism, whenever I hear someone call a politician a Marxist jihadi:
“Please use your theory of communist Islamist jihadism to explain this image.”
“Please use your theory of communist Islamist jihadism to explain this image.”
Suspicious drone activity over Belgian Military Bases since October 2025 (approximate list and locations)
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Suspicious drone activity over Belgian Military Bases since October 2025 (approximate list and locations)
Belgium Calls Urgent Security Council Meeting After Drones Disrupt Airports and Military Bases
united24media.com/latest-news/...
united24media.com/latest-news/...
Belgium Calls Urgent Security Council Meeting After Drones Disrupt Airports and Military Bases
Belgium's National Security Council will meet on November 6 to address recent drone activity disrupting air traffic at key airports and military bases.
united24media.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Belgium Calls Urgent Security Council Meeting After Drones Disrupt Airports and Military Bases
united24media.com/latest-news/...
united24media.com/latest-news/...
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Donald Trump says Islamist militants in #Nigeria are killing Christians & calls for US military action. Since insurgency escalated 16 years ago, about 52,000 civilians have been killed across all faiths and causes —challenging claims of “100,000 Christian deaths.” 🎥Watch: youtube.com/shorts/DnSNe...
Is Nigeria Facing a ‘Christian Genocide’?
YouTube video by ACLED
youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Donald Trump says Islamist militants in #Nigeria are killing Christians & calls for US military action. Since insurgency escalated 16 years ago, about 52,000 civilians have been killed across all faiths and causes —challenging claims of “100,000 Christian deaths.” 🎥Watch: youtube.com/shorts/DnSNe...
Tell that to the people of Iraq …
George W. Bush remembers Dick Cheney: ‘A calm and steady presence’
George W. Bush remembers Dick Cheney: ‘A calm and steady presence’
Cheney’s twilight in American politics was marked by his opposition to Trump, who has yet to weigh in on his death.
dlvr.it
November 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Tell that to the people of Iraq …
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
'Belgische leger gaat onbekende drones boven militaire bases uit de lucht schieten' www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/r...
November 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM
'Belgische leger gaat onbekende drones boven militaire bases uit de lucht schieten' www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/r...
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
🔴Exclusif @france24.com, finalement la rançon d'au moins 50M$ fut pour la libération d'un seul ressortissant émirati et ses deux accompagnateurs de nationalités pakistanaise et iranienne, alors que le JNIM maintient son blocus de Bamako @paulinepaccard.bsky.social youtu.be/UrettJWdtXQ
Mali : le JNIM libère un otage émirati contre une rançon de 50 millions de dollars • FRANCE 24
YouTube video by FRANCE 24
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 11:09 AM
🔴Exclusif @france24.com, finalement la rançon d'au moins 50M$ fut pour la libération d'un seul ressortissant émirati et ses deux accompagnateurs de nationalités pakistanaise et iranienne, alors que le JNIM maintient son blocus de Bamako @paulinepaccard.bsky.social youtu.be/UrettJWdtXQ
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Trump talking about genocide in Nigeria is the biggest nonsense I heard today, and it's coming from me who has been covering jihadists killing Christians quite a bit.The conflict there is simply too complex, with Muslims being pray of other Muslims, bandits, separatists, mafias.
November 1, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Trump talking about genocide in Nigeria is the biggest nonsense I heard today, and it's coming from me who has been covering jihadists killing Christians quite a bit.The conflict there is simply too complex, with Muslims being pray of other Muslims, bandits, separatists, mafias.
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Khamenei tells Trump to 'keep dreaming' he destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
Khamenei tells Trump to 'keep dreaming' he destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities
DUBAI (Reuters) -Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected on Monday an assertion by U.S. President Donald Trump that the United States has destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities. "The…
www.al-monitor.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Khamenei tells Trump to 'keep dreaming' he destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Our reporting project on Assad's top enforcers is on today's frontpage. Gift link: nyti.ms/48uCtkN
October 19, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Our reporting project on Assad's top enforcers is on today's frontpage. Gift link: nyti.ms/48uCtkN
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
The Vanishing Act: How Assad’s Top Henchmen Fled Syria, and Justice www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/w...
The Vanishing Act: How Assad’s Top Henchmen Fled Syria, and Justice
www.nytimes.com
October 19, 2025 at 12:37 PM
The Vanishing Act: How Assad’s Top Henchmen Fled Syria, and Justice www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/w...
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
‼️Alleged pro-Hamas Oct. 7 attacker living in Louisiana arrested by FBI
“I believe it’s only the first [arrest], of probably a few, that we will see like this,” said Head of Terrorism Research Lara Burns, who investigated Hamas for eight years.
“I believe it’s only the first [arrest], of probably a few, that we will see like this,” said Head of Terrorism Research Lara Burns, who investigated Hamas for eight years.
Alleged pro-Hamas Oct. 7 attacker living in Louisiana arrested by FBI
The FBI has arrested a suspect in Louisiana who allegedly participated in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
nypost.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:29 PM
‼️Alleged pro-Hamas Oct. 7 attacker living in Louisiana arrested by FBI
“I believe it’s only the first [arrest], of probably a few, that we will see like this,” said Head of Terrorism Research Lara Burns, who investigated Hamas for eight years.
“I believe it’s only the first [arrest], of probably a few, that we will see like this,” said Head of Terrorism Research Lara Burns, who investigated Hamas for eight years.
Reposted by Pieter Van Ostaeyen
Momentopname: olietankers waarop sancties rusten van de EU en/of de VN. 4 ervan komen/kwamen langs Nederland. App: www.vesselfinder.com
October 19, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Momentopname: olietankers waarop sancties rusten van de EU en/of de VN. 4 ervan komen/kwamen langs Nederland. App: www.vesselfinder.com
The Vanishing Act: How Assad’s Top Henchmen Fled Syria, and Justice www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/w...
The Vanishing Act: How Assad’s Top Henchmen Fled Syria, and Justice
www.nytimes.com
October 19, 2025 at 12:37 PM
The Vanishing Act: How Assad’s Top Henchmen Fled Syria, and Justice www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/w...