Ukraine Crisis Update: August 12, 2015
August 12, 2015 - Hugo SpauldingOn August 10, Russian-backed separatist forces launched their largest combined arms assault against Ukrainian forces in the past two months.
On August 10, Russian-backed separatist forces launched their largest combined arms assault against Ukrainian forces in the past two months.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s landmark August 7 sermon has provided PM Abadi with a mandate to embark on administrative, financial, and anti-corruption reforms.
The ISIS Sanctuary Maps from the last 14 months (and longer) show how ISW has tracked the conflict and become the recognized expert on ISIS's expansion. As we approach the one-year anniversary of U.S. and coalition airstrikes against ISIS, we have collected all our Sanctuary Maps, along with examples of where they have appeared, to help show the role ISW is proud to have played in tracking ISIS. Download the PDF here or view it online on LucidPress.
Reports that the U.S. is considering establishing forward bases to counter ISIS's affiliates in Libya and Afghanistan reflect the increasing regional capability and momentum of the group in the Near Abroad. ISIS likely will gain new support in Afghanistan and possibly globally due to the death of the Taliban's leader, Mullah Omar.
Reports that the U.S. is considering establishing forward bases to counter ISIS's affiliates in Libya and Afghanistan reflect the increasing regional capability and momentum of the group in the Near Abroad. ISIS likely will gain new support in Afghanistan and possibly globally due to the death of the Taliban's leader, Mullah Omar. ISIS is also expanding operations in Yemen, Libya, and Egypt, which may provoke direct conflict between ISIS and al Qaeda.
Popular demonstrations have continued and have spread in southern and northern Iraq in a development that may eventually threaten PM Abadi’s political standing, the stability of southern Iraq, and challenge the Iraqi government’s ability to dedicate national resources to the anti-ISIS campaign.
Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine continued to launch indirect fire and probing infantry attacks against Ukrainian forces in a similar pattern to recent weeks as negotiators from Kyiv, Moscow and the separatist “republics” convened in Minsk to discuss the failing February 2015 ‘Minsk II’ ceasefire agreement.
This map shows ISIS-linked regional activity in June 2015.
This map shows ISIS-linked regional activity in May 2015.