Category: Uncategorized

US and Turkey announce joint op Many ISIL recruits enter Syria via the Turkish border. The US and Turkey will try to close off the crossing points. Iraq will remain as another point of entry. Corruption charges in Nigeria’s security bureaus Nigeria’s former security chief has been accused of pocketing Read More …

The attacks on the French capital demonstrated ISIL’s ability to reach into Western Europe, if only by inspiring Muslims there to strike. French president Hollande responded swiftly with airstrikes on Raqqa, the ISIL capital. He is eager to find other ways to strike back. Concurrently, voices are again calling for Read More …

Russia says bomb took down its plane Russian experts say that a bomb of up to one kilogram detonated aboard the airliner and caused it to crash. This is likely but further investigation will search for traces of explosive chemicals and evidence of an explosion from inside the plane. France calls Read More …

France retaliates against ISIL in Syria, cracks down at home French fighter jets have struck the ISIL capital of Raqqa in eastern Syria. The US and other powers have been reluctant to bomb the city for fear of high civilian casualties. The strikes likely had limited military success, but it Read More …

  Russia’s intervention in the Syrian civil war placed it firmly in the Shia camp with Iran, Syria, Hisbollah, and to some extent Iraq. The move places Russia firmly at odds with the Sunni camp of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Gulf monarchies. Putin’s move seems to be a blunder, Read More …

Paris attack aftermath Information continues to gather slowly in the aftermath of the attack. ISIL has taken credit but it is unclear i fit planned or supplied the operation. It may simply have inspired the attack, One of the terrorists had a Syrian passport that indicates he was a recent Read More …

Kurds enter SInjar city Shortly after a long-awaited offensive began, Kurdish troops have taken control of at least parts of Sinjar. The town was once home to abbot 100,000 Yazidi Kurds but has been largely abandoned. Pockets os resistance remain and there are likely large numbers of booby traps. ISIL Read More …

A Kurdish offensive against ISIL is underway around Sinjar. The Kurds have been the most effective fighters in the ISIL War, pushing the militants out of the north, including the approaches to Erbil. Syrian Kurds delivered a serious blow to ISIL at Kobane, forcing it to retreat from the city and Read More …

Kurdish drive around Sinjar moves ahead Kurdish fighters from Iraq, Syria, and Turkey continue to try to take Sinjar, a key town astride the highway connecting the ISIL-controlled cities of Raqaa and Mosul. There is little unity of command in the three Kurdish forces. This will slow the campaign, though numbers Read More …

Syrian troops break siege of airbase outside Aleppo There are military bases in various parts of Syria that have been surrounded and to some extent besieged for over a year. Syrian troops have broken the siege of the Kweires airbase near Aleppo. It is the first significant gain in the Read More …