Iraq Situation Report: September 7-19, 2016
September 19, 2016 - Emily Anagnostos
Security forces are overextended across Iraq due to increased ISIS attacks and provincial security issues.
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Publications
ISW at the 2016 Concordia Summit-Watch LIVE
September 14, 2016 - John Lawrence
ISW's President and Founder Dr. Kimberly Kagan spoke at two sessions in New York City: "The Ripple Effect: Mapping Security Implications of Global Events" and "Intelligence from Open Sources: Partnerships for International Security." Jessica Lewis McFate, ISW's Director of Tradecraft and Innovation, also spoke at the Concordia 2016 Summit on September 19.
Syria Situation Report: September 1 - 7, 2016
September 7, 2016 - Chris Kozak
Pro-regime forces reinstated the siege of Eastern Aleppo City on 04 SEP. On the same day, opposition groups backed by the Turkish Armed Forces successfully cleared ISIS from the entire length of the Syrian-Turkish Border in Northern Aleppo Province. ISIS later conducted a wave of five suicide attacks on 05 SEP targeting regime positions in Tartous City, Homs City, and Damascus as well as the Syrian Kurdish YPG in Hasaka City.
Iraq Situation Report: August 31-September 6, 2016
September 6, 2016 - Emily Anagnostos
Iraqi Kurdish parties fractured over the impending no-confidence vote against Kurdish Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari. Meanwhile, the National Alliance, the pan-Shi’a bloc in the CoR, selected Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) leader Ammar al-Hakim as its new chairman on September 5.
Al-Qaeda is Gaining Strength in Syria
September 2, 2016 - Jennifer Cafarella
ISW's Jennifer Cafarella and Genevieve Casagrande along with Nicholas A. Heras from the Center for a New American Security highlight, in an Op-Ed for Foreign Policy, the danger to the U.S. from al-Qaeda in Syria, particularly the group Ahrar al-Sham.
ISIS's Campaign in Europe: July 16-August 18, 2016
September 2, 2016 - Melissa Pavlik
ISIS’s network in Europe accelerated small scale attacks in July and August 2015 as part of a deliberate transition to the next phase of its global war between Muslim and non-Muslims. The recent death of ISIS’s spokesman, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, the primary architect of ISIS’s global campaign, will likely not suppress this terror campaign.
Syria Situation Report: August 25 - September 1, 2016
September 1, 2016 - Chris Kozak
U.S. CENTCOM Spokesperson Col. John Thomas stated that Turkey and the Syrian Kurdish YPG reached a “loose agreement” to end clashes near Jarabulus in Northern Aleppo Province on August 30. Turkey rejected the existance of any ceasefire and called upon the U.S. to ensure the withdrawal of the YPG from Manbij in Eastern Aleppo Province.
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: July 28 – August 29, 2016
August 30, 2016 - Chris Kozak
Russia continued to focus its air campaign against Aleppo City and its environs after opposition groups lifted the siege of the eastern districts of the city on August 6, setting conditions for a potential pro-regime counteroffensive to reestablish the encirclement. Russia conducted airstrikes in support of pro-regime forces in frontline districts on the southern outskirts of Aleppo City undertaking repeated efforts to roll back opposition gains.
Iraq Situation Report: August 23-30, 2016
August 30, 2016 - Emily Anagnostos
The Council of Representatives (CoR) dismissed Sunni Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi on August 25, complicating the success of anti-ISIS operations and Sunni reconciliation efforts.
Turkish Incursion into Northern Syria Signals Turning Point in Anti-ISIS Fight
August 30, 2016 - Jennifer Cafarella
Turkey is unraveling America’s anti-ISIS partner in northern Syria in order to position itself as a major power broker in planned operations to retake Raqqa City. Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) crossed into Syria to seize the ISIS held border town of Jarablus alongside numerous Turkish- and U.S.-backed Syrian armed opposition groups on August 24.