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The U.S. has vital national security interests at stake in Syria beyond the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS). Following the U.S. announcement that it will withdraw its forces, a range of actors, including al Qaeda and the Russo-Iranian coalition, are preparing to vie for greater influence.
Ukraine is in a pivotal election year in 2019. Far from facing a "frozen" conflict, the Ukrainian government is defending against a full-spectrum Russian campaign that targets the U.S. and NATO partner state using multiple pressure points.
ISW has been a key actor in tracking Russian airstrikes in Syria since September 30, 2015. Our maps have appeared in the global print, broadcast, and online media.
The United States cannot stabilize—or safely deprioritize—the Middle East without first stabilizing Iraq.
The stabilization of the Iraqi state remains strategically important to the United States and worthy of a concerted US policy effort.
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Sunni Arab tribal fighters backed by Coalition air support recaptured central Ramadi on January 9, the completion of a six-month operation. Iraqi Security Forces entered the city center on December 22.
American over-reliance on Kurdish forces as the primary ground partner in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) threatens the long-term success of the anti-ISIS campaign.
The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) reportedly recaptured the government complex in central Ramadi on December 28 after clearing ISIS-held areas south of the complex on December 26 and 27.
Pressure continues to mount on Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to reshuffle the cabinet. Abadi misses Sadrist deadline leading to Muqtada al-Sadr staging a sit-in in the Green Zone.
Security in Afghanistan has been deteriorating since U.S. force levels dropped from a high of 100,000 in 2011 to the current force size of 9,800 they reached in June 2014.