Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
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 …
Over the last eighteen months the territory ISIL controls in Iraq and Syria has shrunk significantly. The Kurds have driven its forces out of most of their autonomous region. The Iraqi army, despite egregious corruption and a dearth of fighting spirit, has retaken Tikrit and is encircling Ramadi. ISIL, and Islamist militancy Read More …
ISIL claims to kill four Egyptian policemen ISIL continues to establish itself in Egypt. It has already ensconced itself with restive tribes in Sinai. However, it is also striking in and near major cities as well. This is in large part owing to the military coup that ousted the Muslim Read More …
ISIL in Bangladesh? Gunmen attacked a Shia mosque in northern Bangladesh. ISIL has claimed responsibility. It isn’t entirely clear if this is true, especially in the sense of operational responsibility. The ISIL call to arms is being heard around the Islamic world. Saudi women to vote in municipal elections Women Read More …
Germany sends assets to ISIL war Breaking a longstanding reluctance to use its military, Germany is sending aircraft to perform reconnaissance and refueling missions. This comes as part of a European reaction to the Paris attacks two weeks ago. Deutschland uber ISIS! Russian will production not as central to GDP as Read More …
Russia retaliates for Turkish shootdown In response to Turkey’s shootdown of a Russian jet a few days ago, Russia has restricted food imports from Turkey. Russia may restrict energy exports to Turkey, but in an age of oil/gas surpluses the end result may be the loss of markets for Russian Read More …
Russia simmers over loss of jet The shoot down of a Russian jet yesterday continues to swirl about the region. Turkish engineering contracts inside Russia are imperiled. The Jerusalem Post reports that US intelligence believes the Russian fighter was indeed in Syrian airspace when to was struck by an air-to-air Read More …