Publications
ISIS Contests Regime Supply Line to Aleppo City
October 28, 2015 - Chris KozakThe Islamic State Digs In
October 22, 2015 - Jessica D. LewisRussia’s recent intervention in Syria will generate more opportunities for the Islamic State than it quells. If the Islamic State’s core defenses around major cities in Iraq and Syria hold, the Islamic State will weather Russia’s intervention and likely emerge stronger. New via West Point Combating Terrorism Center: The Sentinel
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: September 30 - October 18, 2015
October 22, 2015 - Genevieve CasagrandeRegime and Iranian Forces Launch Multi-Pronged Offensive in Aleppo
October 22, 2015 - Chris KozakThe Syrian regime and its allies launched a major, multi-pronged offensive in Aleppo Province on October 15 in order to bolster the regime's foothold in Aleppo City. Both Russia and Iran likely aim to enable Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to reassert control over Syria’s largest city given the heavy involvement of their military forces in these operations. Russia and Iran will not limit their support to reinforcing the regime's defenses in its heartland along the Syrian coast.
Regime and Iranian Forces Launch Multi-Pronged Offensive in Aleppo
October 21, 2015 - Chris KozakThe Syrian regime and its allies launched a major, multi-pronged offensive in Aleppo Province on October 15 in order to bolster the regime's foothold in Aleppo City. Both Russia and Iran likely aim to enable Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to reassert control over Syria’s largest city given the heavy involvement of their military forces in these operations. Russia and Iran will not limit their support to reinforcing the regime's defenses in its heartland along the Syrian coast.
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: September 30, 2015 - October 18, 2015
October 19, 2015 - Genevieve CasagrandeThe Russian air campaign in Syria continues to bolster the Syrian regime’s fight against the opposition. Russian warplanes provided air support to regime ground offensives against rebels in Aleppo, Latakia, northern Hama, and Damascus Provinces from October 17-18.
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: September 30, 2015 - October 14, 2015
October 15, 2015 - Genevieve CasagrandeRussia’s involvement in Syria is facilitating ISIS’s territorial gains, while also strengthening Assad. Russia is supporting the Syrian regime’s offensives in Latakia, the al-Ghab Plain, and northern Hama. Russia also intensified strikes on rebel-held northwestern Aleppo, likely to set conditions for an imminent Russian-Iranian-Syrian regime offensive in the area.
Joint Syrian-Iranian-Russian Offensive Achieves Only Limited Initial Gains
October 14, 2015 - Chris KozakKey Takeaway: The Syrian regime has not gained much terrain in the first week of its large-scale ground offensive against rebel forces, despite support from intensified Russian airstrikes and hundreds of Iranian proxy reinforcements. Operations against the Syrian opposition will likely prove harder and slower than anticipated by either Russia or Iran, protracting the conflict and exacerbating extremism.