Iraq Situation Report: January 7 - 11, 2015
January 11, 2016 - Patrick Martin
Rival Shi’a political factions are capitalizing on increased instability in Basra to compete for influence.
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Publications
ISIS's Regional Campaign: December 2015
January 11, 2016 - Harleen Gambhir
ISIS’s affiliates in Libya and Pakistan gained new supporters and expanded attack zones in December 2015. ISIS’s largely dormant affiliates in Algeria and Russia’s North Caucasus region also conducted rare attacks, potentially signaling a renewal of ISIS activity in those areas. Each of these affiliate campaigns give ISIS resiliency outside of Iraq and Syria.
ISIS's Regional Campaign: December 2015
January 11, 2016 - ISW PressISIS’s affiliates in Libya and Pakistan gained new supporters and expanded attack zones in December 2015. ISIS’s largely dormant affiliates in Algeria and Russia’s North Caucasus region also conducted rare attacks, potentially signaling a renewal of ISIS activity in those areas. Each of these affiliate campaigns give ISIS resiliency outside of Iraq and Syria.
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: December 28, 2015 - January 7, 2016
January 8, 2016 - Genevieve Casagrande
The tempo of Russian air operations slowed considerably from January 4 - 7. ISW was only able to confirm 17 locations of Russian airstrikes during the reporting period, the lowest volume of Russian strikes since early October 2015. The cause of this decrease currently remains unclear; as the lull may have been caused by changing weather conditions, shifts in Russian posturing inside Syria, or deferred maintenance activities following several weeks of heavy Russian airstrikes.
Iraq Situation Report: December 22, 2015 - January 6, 2016
January 6, 2016 - Patrick Martin
The ISF made significant gains in Ramadi in December, clearing much of the city center and recapturing the government complex on December 28.
Russia Security Update: December 22, 2015-January 5, 2016
January 5, 2016 - Hugo Spaulding
Russia heightened its confrontation with the U.S. and its allies beyond conventional military aggression, conducting information, economic, and possible cyber operations. President Vladimir Putin instituted a new national security strategy outlining Russia’s primary security objectives and threats. Russia accused the U.S. and its partners of conducting multimodal warfare in an effort to contain Russia’s resurgence as a great power, a core objective in its updated strategy. Moscow also suggested that U.S.
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: December 22, 2015 - January 3, 2016
January 3, 2016 - Genevieve Casagrande
The Russian air campaign in Syria continues to bolster the position of the Assad regime ahead of negotiations between pro- and anti-regime representatives scheduled for January 25. The overwhelming majority of Russian airstrikes continue to support ongoing regime operations, targeting rebel positions in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs, Damascus, and Dera’a Provinces from December 28, 2015 to January 3, 2016. Russia targeted ISIS-held terrain with only a limited number of strikes in Aleppo, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zour Provinces.
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: December 22, 2015 - January 3, 2016
January 3, 2016 - Genevieve Casagrande
The Russian air campaign in Syria continues to bolster the position of the Assad regime ahead of negotiations between pro- and anti-regime representatives scheduled for January 25. The overwhelming majority of Russian airstrikes continue to support ongoing regime operations, targeting rebel positions in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs, Damascus, and Dera’a Provinces from December 28, 2015 to January 3, 2016. Russia targeted ISIS-held terrain with only a limited number of strikes in Aleppo, Raqqa, and Deir ez-Zour Provinces.