Publications

Russian Military Activity: October 27-November 3, 2015

November 3, 2015 - Hugo Spaulding

Russia continues to leverage its military intervention in Syria to assert its great power status in the Middle East. Following inconclusive multilateral talks in Vienna on October 30, Russia claimed to have conducted airstrikes in direct coordination with the Syrian opposition in order to present itself as a cooperative actor, and possibly to sow distrust among rebel groups. Russia strengthened its military partnership with Iran by closing in on an agreement over a previously-stalled contract to provide S-300 anti-aircraft systems to Tehran.

U.S. Options For A Syrian No-Fly Zone

November 3, 2015 -

The U.S. can and should act decisively in Syria in order to protect its national security interests and those of its allies. The current exodus of refugees from Syria presents significant economic and security challenges to America’s allies in Europe and the Middle East, and directly benefits the Syrian Assad regime, Iran, Hezbollah, Russia, the Al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra (JN), and the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS).

ISIS-Linked Regional Activity: October 2015

November 3, 2015 - Harleen Gambhir
ISIS targeted Shi'a civilians in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before and during celebrations for Ashura, a Shi'a religious holiday in October 2015. ISIS's affiliates and supporters also targeted Sunni Arab rivals in Turkey and in Yemen. ISIS is attempting to rally the Muslim world against Israel simultaneously, encouraging supporters to attack Jews and rival militant Palestinian groups. ISIS's regional strategy depends upon victory against all three foes.

ISIS-Linked Regional Activity: October 2015

November 3, 2015 - Harleen Gambhir

ISIS targeted Shi'a civilians in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before and during celebrations for Ashura, a Shi'a religious holiday in October 2015. ISIS's affiliates and supporters also targeted Sunni Arab rivals in Turkey and in Yemen. ISIS is attempting to rally the Muslim world against Israel simultaneously, encouraging supporters to attack Jews and rival militant Palestinian groups. ISIS's regional strategy depends upon victory against all three foes. It also depends upon the defeat of foreign powers in the region, including Russia.

Iraq Situation Report: October 27 - November 2, 2015

November 2, 2015 - Patrick Martin

PM Haidar al-Abadi suffered a serious blow in his bid to reform and lead the government on November 2 when the Council of Representatives (CoR) unanimously ruled to withdraw his ability to launch reform packages unilaterally. 

Russian Airstrikes in Syria: October 23 - November 1, 2015

November 2, 2015 - Genevieve Casagrande

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) discontinued the release of daily airstrike reports from October 28 – November 1 amidst multilateral talks on the Syrian Civil War held in Vienna on October 30 and continued reports of civilian casualties. Nevertheless, credible local sources continued to report airstrikes in Dera’a, Damascus, Homs, Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo from October 31 – November 1.

Russian Airstrikes in Syria: October 23 - November 1, 2015

November 2, 2015 - Genevieve Casagrande

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) discontinued the release of daily airstrike reports from October 28 – November 1 amidst multilateral talks on the Syrian Civil War held in Vienna on October 30 and continued reports of civilian casualties. Nevertheless, credible local sources continued to report airstrikes in Dera’a, Damascus, Homs, Hama, Idlib, and Aleppo from October 31 – November 1.

Russian Airstrikes in Syria: September 30 - October 30, 2015

October 31, 2015 - Genevieve Casagrande

The Russian air campaign in Syria reportedly expanded into the southern province of Dera’a one month after Russian airstrikes in Syria commenced. Credible local sources reported that Russian warplanes conducted overnight strikes near Tel al-Harra and other nearby villages east of the Golan Heights in Dera’a Province on October 28. Tel al-Harra is the location of a Russian signals intelligence facility, which was seized by rebels in October 2014.

Russian Airstrikes in Syria: September 30 - October 28, 2015

October 30, 2015 - Genevieve Casagrande
Key Takeaway: Russian airstrikes near Aleppo targeted rebels from October 27-28 as the Syrian regime’s ground offensives suffered setbacks. Syrian regime ground offensives against rebels in the southern countryside of Aleppo and against ISIS near the besieged Kuweires Airbase east of Aleppo City largely stalled following ISIS's offensive against the regime-held town of Safira in the southeastern Aleppo countryside on October 26.

The Fight for Aleppo: October 21-28, 2015

October 30, 2015 - Chris Kozak
ISIS launched a multi-phase counterattack against the Syrian regime and its allies in Aleppo Province which threatens the regime’s control over its primary ground line of communication (GLOC) to Aleppo City. ISIS seized multiple checkpoints along the highway between the towns of Khanaser and Ithriya in southern Aleppo Province on 23 OCT. These gains blocked the route used by the Syrian regime to deploy reinforcements to Aleppo from Hama and Homs Provinces. ISIS subsequently initiated a major attack targeting the key regime-held town of Safira southeast of Aleppo City.

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