Publications

Control of Terrain in Iraq: November 24, 2014

November 24, 2014 - Institute for the Study of War

Changes for November 24, 2014 Update: On November 23, Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), and Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) that include Iraqi Shi’a militias cleared the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham from the areas of Jalula and Sadia in Diyala province in northeastern Iraq.

Iraq Situation Report: November 22-23

November 23, 2014 - Institute for the Study of War

The fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) continues to yield mixed results.

Iraq Situation Report: November 20-21

November 21, 2014 - Institute for the Study of War

The provincial capital of Anbar Province, Ramadi, has been heavily contested by ISIS since the beginning of the Anbar operations and has been under the threat of falling to ISIS for nearly a year.

Next Steps for U.S. Foreign Policy on Syria and Iraq

November 20, 2014 - Kimberly Kagan

American strategy in Iraq and Syria continues to suffer from a fatal flaw.  President Obama explicitly ordered that it focus only on “degrading” and “destroying” the Islamic State to the exclusion of any other American national security interests and regardless of the likelihood of the long-term success of any such effort undertaken in isolation.  As a result, the strategy has achieved some limited successes against the Islamic State, but those isolated successes are coming at the expense of other important American security concerns.  The current approach, in p

Control of Terrain in Iraq: November 20, 2014

November 20, 2014 - Institute for the Study of War

On November 14, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) which include Iraqi Shi’a militias were able to achieve significant advances against the Islamic State of Iraq al-Sham (ISIS) in the strategic town of Baiji in Salah ad-Din province in northern Iraq. Baiji has been under the control of ISIS since June of this year and is also home to Iraq’s biggest oil refinery, the Baiji Refinery which has endured a five-month long ISIS siege.

ISIS Sanctuary Map: November 20, 2014

November 20, 2014 - Institute for the Study of War

ISW has updated its ISIS Sanctuary map! This map, covering both Iraq and Syria, shows the extent of ISIS zones of control, attack, and support throughout both countries.

Iraq Situation Report: November 18-19

November 19, 2014 - Institute for the Study of War

Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi Shi’a militias, Kurdish forces, and Iraqi Sunni anti-ISIS tribes are applying pressure on ISIS across multiple fronts.

Iraq Situation Report: November 18-19

November 19, 2014 - Institute for the Study of War

Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi Shi’a militias, Kurdish forces, and Iraqi Sunni anti-ISIS tribes are applying pressure on ISIS across multiple fronts.

Syria Update: November 10 - 18, 2014

November 19, 2014 - Institute for the Study of War

JN and the FSA-affiliated Southern Front continue to make significant gains in Dera’a Province, seizing several military installations north of Sheikh Miskin and threatening to sever the regime supply line to Dera’a city.

Iraq Situation Report: November 17, 2014

November 17, 2014 - Institute for the Study of War

Although Baiji district is not fully cleared by the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Iraqi Shi’a militias, it is clear that ISIS has lost a significant part of the area and has decided not to reinforce it from Hawija, an ISIS stronghold located north of Baiji.

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