Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Majority of Americans now favor ground troops against ISIL A recent CNN poll shows that 53% of Americans favor sending a US ground force to fight ISIL. This of course comes shortly after the San Bernardino attack and months of frustration in fighting ISIL in Syria and Iraq. Furthermore, a Read More …
ISIL assassinates governor in S Yemen The governor of the southern port of Aden has been killed in a car bombing. ISIL has claimed responsibility. The civil war between north and south is weakening government across the country and killing a governor further weakness the South’s already precarious government. This Read More …
ISIL claims 1600 recruits in eastern Afghanistan The Taliban is splintering and ISIL is picking up support. The claim of 1600 newcomers may not be accurate but ISIL has found support. It is noteworthy that the area of success is in eastern Afghanistan where a slew of internationalist jihadis have long Read More …
ISIL strikes back near Ramadi Iraqi forces gathering around the ISIKL-held city of Ramadi have been struck by a series of car bombs. iISL is trying to throw off plans to take the city. Immense car bombs were what devastated the Iraqi forces defending the town last spring. The US Read More …
The grisly executions of last year and the recent Paris attacks have brought increased commitment from major powers to fight ISIL. The US, France, Germany, and Britain are conducting or supporting airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. Russia purports to be doing the same in Syria, and occasionally does. The agreement Read More …
Reports of Taliban leader’s injury or death Mullah Mansour, the new leader of the Taliban, may have been wounded or even killed in a meeting of the movement’s leadership council. This comes shortly after a faction broke away, apparently in disagreement over the succession following the death of Mullah Omar. Read More …
ISIL in Libya is coming to world attention Col Qaddafi had an Islamist movement inside his country, He thought he could deal with it through repression, including a massacre of jailed Islamists. It didn’t work; many Islamists simply went overseas. In its early years, al Qaeda had a large Libyan component. Read More …
The US has announced an impending deployment of an unspecified number of special forces troops – probably rangers, SEALs, and Delta Force. They will operate in Iraq, where the government has authorized them, and in Syria, where the government has not. Russian president Putin is watching. Why The move, announced Read More …
Who supplies ISIL? ISIL’s revenue comes from taxation of locals under their control, oil smuggling, and Sunni donors in the region. What about their weaponry? ISIL seized a large cache of arms when it took Mosul about 18 months ago. But ammunition is obtained from local arms dealers and from Read More …
Iranian media reports battle deaths in Syria Iran has generally downplayed mention of its military presence in Syria, until recently. Now the casualties are acknowledged and even presented as heroic. Like Russia. Iran is using military actions abroad to win domestic support.m Others states do it as well. Reports state that Read More …