Former National Security Advisor sees deepening US involvement
Former NSA Ton Donilon sees the US getting more deeply involved in the ISIL War, especially in the upcoming battles for Mosul and Reqaa.He also sees poyrntial for greater US involvement in fighting ISIL in Libya. ISIL forces there are expanding from coastal areas and seeking to take coastal oil terminals and oil fields in the south.
Whatever successes the Iraqi military has had in the last year have been won by elite units known as the Counter-Terrosim Service. The mainstream units have not performed well. CTS troops have taken high though unstated casualties and are in need of time to rest and integrate new personnel into their units. The same is true of the Afghan military: elite units are bearing the burden.
Syrian troops take southern town, with Russian help
It has been several months since Russia and Iran helped launch a counteroffensive in the north and south. This Wash Post article sees the successes as more significant than does Downing Reports. The war is becoming more and more of a proxy war between Russia and Iran on the one hand and the West and Sunni states on the other.