Publications

Afghanistan Partial Threat Assessment: August 28, 2016

August 28, 2016 - Caitlin Forrest

Taliban militants are successfully expanding their territorial control across several regions of Afghanistan during their 2016 summer offensive, Operation Omari. The ANSF’s counter-offensive, Operation Shafaq has repulsed individual Taliban operations, such as the August offensive to isolate Helmand’s provincial capital, but the ANSF remain unprepared and under-resourced to conduct operations in more than one region simultaneously, despite NATO and U.S. assistance.

ISW Tracking of Iraq’s 2016 Political Crisis

August 25, 2016 - John Lawrence

Updated on August 25: Iraq’s Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and his entire cabinet are at risk of a no-confidence vote following Parliament’s ouster of Sunni Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi. This page provides a comprehensive collection of ISW reporting and analysis of this political crisis, which ISW has covered since it began.

Iraq's Parliament Ousts Defense Minister

August 25, 2016 - Patrick Martin

Iraq’s Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and his entire cabinet are at risk of a no-confidence vote following Parliament’s ouster of Sunni Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi.

Syria Situation Report: August 18-25, 2016

August 25, 2016 - Chris Kozak

Opposition groups backed by the U.S. and Turkey seize the town of Jarablus from ISIS; the YPG starts withdrawal from Manbij; U.S. SOF relocates from Hasakah City; and more.

Iraq Control of Terrain Map: August 25, 2016

August 25, 2016 - Emily Anagnostos

The ISF recaptured the city of Qayyarah on August 25 following more than a month of operations to secure terrain on the southern and western outskirts of the city after security forces seized the Qayyarah Airbase on July 9. In addition, the Waleed Broder Crossing was retaken and Iraqi Peshmerga launched clearing operations SE of Mosul.

Iraq Situation Report: August 16-22, 2016

August 22, 2016 - Emily Anagnostos

Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi faces an upcoming vote of no-confidence in the Council of Representatives (CoR) following accusations of corruption from the Reform Front, the opposition bloc driven by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

ISIS Sanctuary Map: August 19, 2016

August 19, 2016 - Caitlin Forrest

Since the publication of ISW’s last sanctuary map on July 1, 2016, ISIS militants lost control of the city of Manbij and the town of Al-Rai in Northern Aleppo Province in a series of victories for the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) continued to set conditions for future operations to retake Mosul.

Syria Situation Report: August 12-18, 2016

August 18, 2016 - Chris Kozak

Russia launched airstrikes from the Shahid Nojeh Airbase in Hamedan Province in Western Iran following the conclusion of a basing agreement and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces seized full control of Manbij

Iraq Situation Report: August 9-15, 2016

August 15, 2016 - Emily Anagnostos

Outgoing Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) Commander Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland gave his final briefing, as the Council of Representatives (CoR) approved five ministers in a partial Cabinet reshuffle.

Russian Build-Up In and Around Ukraine: August 12, 2016

August 12, 2016 - Kathleen Weinberger

An ongoing Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders may indicate preparations for conventional military conflict. It certainly marks a dramatic escalation of tensions that will have significant repercussions in Ukraine. Russia has deployed additional military forces and systems to Ukraine’s northern, eastern, and southern borders.

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