Publications

Syria Situation Report: September 8 - 22, 2016

September 23, 2016 - Chris Kozak

Violence in Aleppo City spiked to new highs after the collapse of a nationwide ‘cessation of hostilities’ on September 19. The ceasefire marked a core component of a wide-ranging deal on the Syrian Civil War reached by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on September 9. No initiative appears likely to prevent the ongoing escalation, pointing towards a new wave of violence that will benefit ISIS, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, and other Salafi-Jihadist Groups.

Russian Airstrikes in Syria: September 30, 2015-September 19, 2016

September 21, 2016 - Genevieve Casagrande

ISW has produced nearly 60 maps on Russian airstrikes in Syria since they first began on September 30, 2015.  The first map appeared less than 24 hours after the Russians began strikes and they continue today as do the strikes despite repeated "cessations of hostilities" and an alleged Russian withdrawal.

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.

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.

Pages