Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Russian airstrikes near Golan Heights Russia has bombed ISIL and al Nusrah Front positons just to the east of Israel. Israel has had a guarded relationship with those two groups but has reportedly given limited help to the al Nusrah Front, which is the al Qaeda affiliate in Syria. Israel Read More …
US rethinking usefulness of training programs In the wake of poor performances by western-trained forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, the US is reevaluating its strategy of relying on US airpower and US-trained ground troops in wars against ISIL and the Taliban. Trainers can teach soldiers how to salute and Read More …
The Syrian civil war, despite movement of the lines here and there, has been stalemated for well over a year. The ongoing Russian-Iranian offensive may retake Aleppo and Idlib, though without having the momentum or numbers to defeat the rebels. World leaders are looking for a solution but trust is low Read More …
Israel and Jordan agree on al Aqsa security The recent violence in Israel and the West Bank has been due to the absence of progress on a Palestinian state but also on efforts by some Israelis to change the norms governing the Temple Mount. US Sec of State Kerry believes a Read More …
Palace coup in Saudi Arabia? A respected British paper, The Independent, is reporting that a number of the remaining Sudairi brothers, the elite of the House of Saudi, want oust the present king. He is said to be suffering from dementia and has allowed his son to involve the country Read More …
Israel and Russia on Syria There are intriguing conversations going between Russia and Israel over Syria. Russia may be able to rein in Iran and Hisbollah, which will lessen danger to Israel’s north. In return, Israel may accept the Assad regime’s presence in a truncated state running from the Mediterranean Read More …
Only a few years ago the US was confident it had left behind combat operations in the Middle East. It’s back, albeit reluctantly. The US has bolstered its training mission in Iraq and begun air support missions. To the west, in Syria, the US failed to build a rebel force Read More …
Shia militias gain political clout in Iraq The Iraqi army’s ineptitude has led to the military importance of Shia militias. Now, the militias are important political actors. PM Abadi meets with militia commanders to plan strategy against ISIL. In that the Shia militias are backed by Iran this will cause Read More …
Summit re Syria slated for Friday Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey will meet to discuss the war in Syria. The view here has been that the Russian intervention in recent weeks was designed to impress upon the rebels that they could not win and that a negotiated settlement Read More …
Russia’s deployment of fighter aircraft and troops to Syria has overshadowed similar moves by Iran. The Islamic Republic, a longstanding Syrian ally, has sent about four thousand Shia fighters recruited from Afghanistan’s Hazara people and Iraq’s Arab majority, and reportedly a small contingent of its own ground troops as well. Read More …