Publications

Russia Security Update: November 18-25, 2015

November 25, 2015 - Hugo Spaulding

Turkey sharply escalated Russian-NATO relations on November 24 by downing a Russian Su-24 bomber near the Turkish-Syrian border. Turkey reported that the Russian bomber had violated Turkish airspace and ignored repeated warnings before Turkish F-16s shot the aircraft down. Syrian rebels killed one Russian pilot, and a subsequent search-and-rescue mission in northern Syria resulted in the death of a Russian marine and the destruction of a Russian helicopter. Russia is likely to take escalatory measures to project force against NATO’s southern flank in response to Turkey’s actions.

Iraq Control of Terrain Map: November 25, 2015

November 25, 2015 - Patrick Martin

Kurdish forces recaptured the Yazidi-majority district of Sinjar, west of Mosul from ISIS on November 13. Confrontations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will grow increasingly likely as both seek to control Sinjar, while Kurdish control over the mixed-demographic district is already leading to heightened tensions between Yazidis and Sunni Arabs.

Iraq Control of Terrain Map: November 25, 2015

November 25, 2015 - Patrick Martin

Kurdish forces recaptured the Yazidi-majority district of Sinjar, west of Mosul from ISIS on November 13. Confrontations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will grow increasingly likely as both seek to control Sinjar, while Kurdish control over the mixed-demographic district is already leading to heightened tensions between Yazidis and Sunni Arabs.

Russo-Turkish Tensions Since the Start of the Russian Air Campaign

November 25, 2015 - Institute for the Study of War

Russia and Turkey have long been at odds over Syria, with Moscow backing President Bashar al Assad and Ankara supporting the opposition to overthrow him. Tensions increased dramatically with the start of the Russian air campaign on September 30. The Turkish shoot-down of a Russian combat aircraft on November 24 is an escalation in this tense stand-off between Russia and a NATO member.

Russo-Turkish Tensions Since the Start of the Russian Air Campaign

November 24, 2015 - Institute for the Study of War

Russia and Turkey have long been at odds over Syria, with Moscow backing President Bashar al Assad and Ankara supporting the opposition to overthrow him. Tensions increased dramatically with the start of the Russian air campaign on September 30. The Turkish shoot-down of a Russian combat aircraft on November 24 is an escalation in this tense stand-off between Russia and a NATO member.

ISW's President's Circle Dinner 2015

November 24, 2015 - ISW Press

ISW held its Fifth Annual President's Circle Dinner honoring General Raymond T. Odierno (U.S. Army, Ret.) with the National Security Award for his Distinguished Service to Our Nation.

Russian Strikes in Syria: November 9 - November 19, 2015

November 20, 2015 - Genevieve Casagrande

Russia shifted its air campaign in an effort to mimic the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition's recent offensive to target ISIS-run oil and natural gas infrastructure from November 18-19. Russian military chief of staff Col. Gen.

Iraq Situation Report: November 10 - 19, 2015

November 19, 2015 - Patrick Martin

The combined Kurdish offensive against ISIS in Sinjar is less significant as a tactical gain against ISIS than as a symbolic victory for multiple Kurdish factions that will ultimately compete for dominance. 

Russia Security Update: November 11-18, 2015

November 18, 2015 - Hugo Spaulding

Russia is attempting to align itself with France in the wake of ISIS’s terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13. Russia took steps to reassert its freedom of action in Syria as France expanded its anti-ISIS air campaign in response to the Paris attacks. On November 17, Russia launched air strikes from long-range strategic bombers for the first time since its intervention in the Syrian Civil War and announced plans to deploy 12 additional fixed-wing attack aircraft.

Russian Strikes in Syria: November 6 - November 17, 2015

November 18, 2015 - Genevieve Casagrande

Russia announced a new phase of its air campaign in Syria on November 17 following a new directive from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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