Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
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 …
When Saigon fell, and the last Huey was pushed into the sea, Americans looked back with dismay on the foreign entanglements that had culminated in calamity. Those who cared to look ahead saw little prospect of war. Surely, they thought, the nation had learned from a war that had Read More …
Syrian rebels strike near Russian base Two powerful blasts have struck Latakia, a port on the Mediterranean and home to a new Russian airbase. Early reports inside 23 dead and 40 wounded. No mention of Russian casualties. The rebels have shown the ability to strike deep in the Shia/Alawi homeland Read More …
Kurdish offensive on Sinjar stalls The town of Sinjar lies just west of ISIL-occupied Sinjar, and taking Sinjar would cut off Mosul from the rest of ISIL in Syria and Iraq. Kurdish factionalism is still overriding the need for unified action against ISIL. Combined with the weakness and corruption of the Iraqi Read More …
Russia is asserting itself in the world, challenging American policies in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Russian troops helped annex the Crimea and are doing the same in the Eastern Ukraine. Russian aircraft and advisers recently deployed into Syria to strengthen its position in the Middle East. Cold War Read More …
ISIL affiliate in Sinai to lane for Russian plane disaster? “Sinai Province” is an ISIL group operating in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula which is not under Cairo’s writ. Bedouin groups and al Qaeda groups also operate there. The military coup that ousted the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 and drove the MB Read More …
Syrian government offensive slowed, pushed back in places The much vaunted Russian-Iranian-backed offensive in northern Syria is not going well. US and Saudi aid to rebels has increased to counter the moves by Russia and Iran. The TOW missile is seen as especially important in blunting the drives, but this Read More …