Downing Reports

Turkey shoots down Russian jet Turkey has shot down a Russian SU-24 which it says had strayed into Turkish airspace. Putin insists the jet never left Syrian airspace and has called the indigent a “stab in the back.” Russian aircraft have crossed into Turkish airspace in the past and received warnings. Read More …

French aircraft carrier poised to strike ISIL; generals urge caution  The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is positioned in the eastern Mediterranean. British PM Cameron has offered France the use of an RAF field on Cyprus. French generals are urging caution about meeting with success in the near term. This Read More …

Study of Kunduz calamity  TheTaliban’s seizure of Kunduz city two months ago shocked Kabul and Washington alike. A report directed by former Afghan intel chief Amrullah Saleh faults “poor leadership, misuse of resources and bad communication between Afghan security forces.” This calls into question the ability of ethnically and religiously Read More …

US and Sunni powers wooing Russia away from Iran Iran is Assad’s strongest supporter. Russia is thought more amenable to removing Assad. The US and Sunni powers are trying to convince Putin to help get rid of Assad then cooperate against ISIL – and to limit Iranian influence in Syria. Read More …

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 …