Publications

Russian Airstrikes in Syria: July 28 – August 29, 2016

August 30, 2016 - Chris Kozak

Russia continued to focus its air campaign against Aleppo City and its environs after opposition groups lifted the siege of the eastern districts of the city on August 6, setting conditions for a potential pro-regime counteroffensive to reestablish the encirclement. Russia conducted airstrikes in support of pro-regime forces in frontline districts on the southern outskirts of Aleppo City undertaking repeated efforts to roll back opposition gains.

Iraq Situation Report: August 23-30, 2016

August 30, 2016 - Emily Anagnostos

The Council of Representatives (CoR) dismissed Sunni Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi on August 25, complicating the success of anti-ISIS operations and Sunni reconciliation efforts.

Turkish Incursion into Northern Syria Signals Turning Point in Anti-ISIS Fight

August 30, 2016 - Jennifer Cafarella

Turkey is unraveling America’s anti-ISIS partner in northern Syria in order to position itself as a major power broker in planned operations to retake Raqqa City. Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) crossed into Syria to seize the ISIS held border town of Jarablus alongside numerous Turkish- and U.S.-backed Syrian armed opposition groups on August 24.

Russian Anti-Access and Area Denial (A2AD) Range

August 29, 2016 - Kathleen Weinberger

Russia has altered the security balance in the Black Sea, Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East by establishing large anti-access/area-denial (A2AD) exclusion zones. Russia’s power projection in these regions has been further extended by the deployment of the S-400 air defense system to Crimea in August 2016 and to Syria in November 2015.

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.

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