Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Allied airstrike kills Iraqi troops Ten Iraqi soldiers were killed by an allied airstrike just west of Baghdad. US Sec Defense Carter has said the culpable pilot was likely an American. Iraqi politicians will use this to drum up anti-american sentiment and they will do so with considerable encouragement from Read More …
ISIL attack in north blunted ISIL launched an attack north of Mosul. This was their first offensive move since taking Ramadi last May. This attack was repelled by Kurdish forces and US airpower. The ISIL attack may have been an attempt to offset an upcoming attack on its stronghold of Read More …
US tries to defuse Iraq-Turkey rift The continued presence of Turkish troops in Kurdistan has led to sharp; objections from Iraq, which considers Kurdistan to be part of Iraq. The claim is tenuous but Baghdad does have legal claims to Kurdistan. The US is trying to prevent Iraq from falling under Read More …
Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a 34-member alliance to fight terrorism in the Islamic world.1 It comes after growing annoyance in the West over the Islamic world’s paltry response to ISIL and its obvious preference to let the West do the heavy lifting in Syria and Iraq. Anti-terror Read More …
Saudis form “anti-terrorism” partnership Saudi Arabia has formed a vast alliance, of sorts, with fellow Gulf principalities, Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, as well as aver two dozen other states. Look for sharing of intelligence and joint training exercises, but not much else. This alliance is at least as anti-Shia/Iran as it Read More …
American special forces engaged in combat in Afghanistan The NY Times reports that US special forces have been secretly engaged in combat for the last few months. They are now in the southwestern province of Helmand. Afghan forces are said to be dispirited from corruption and constant fighting. Several years Read More …
It’s been almost three months since Iran and Russia increased efforts to bolster the flagging troops of the Assad government – Russia with advisers and airpower, Iran with advisers and ground troops. Their aims are not precisely known but they likely want either to decisively defeat the rebels, or Read More …
Opposition to Turkey’s presence in Kurdistan builds Turkey deployed troops into Kurdistan, which is still legally part of Iraq, in order to defend a business partner. Kurdistan is at war with ISIL but there have also been skirmishes between Kurdish troops and Arab-Shia militias aligned with Baghdad – and Iran. Read More …
US airstrikes cripple ISIL at Ramadi The Pentagon estimates that its airstrikes have killed 350 ISIL troops in or near the Anbar capital. Such estimates should not be taken as precise. Nonetheless, when ISIL has to concentrate its troops, as at Kobane, Sinjar, and now Ramadi, airpower can deliver devastating blows. al Read More …
Expectations that Iran would move closer to the US after the nuclear deal have to be put aside, at least for the foreseeable future. Supreme Leader Khameini has closed off further dialog with Washington, synchronized the media with the mullahs and generals, tested the limits of the nuclear deal, and aligned his country’s foreign policy Read More …