Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
Behold! God sent me with a sword, just before the Hour, and placed my daily sustenance beneath the shadow of my spear. – Islamic apocrypha Dismissal [of apocalyptic thinking] leaves us deaf to the internal logic of people who believe they must shatter the world to make it whole. – Read More …
Taliban continue fighting in Kunduz province Having failed to hold on to Kunduz city, the Taliban have launched attacks in the parts of Kunduz province. They were able to leave the city with sizable quantities of ammunition and other supplies. Iranian ground troops in Syria? There’ve been reports of Iranian Read More …
In a bold and well-orchestrated offensive, the Taliban swept into the northern Afghan city of Kunduz. Many observers wondered if they were seeing a repeat of the ISIL offensives against Mosul last year and against Ramadi this year. Some wondered if the Afghan army (ANA), after years of hard Read More …
Taliban lose control of Kunduz The Taliban may have lost Kunduz shortly after taking it. Three things are important here. First, many Afghan troops failed to put up a fight. Second, the counteroffensive was led by Afghan special forces troops and special forces from unspecified western countries. (They were probably Read More …
Battle for Kunduz continues The Afghan army’s counterattack against the Taliban isn’t going well, despite western air support. Local ANA commanders admit their troops lack the resolve to fight and UN special forces are being put into the fight. Meanwhile, the Taliban may be trying to hold onto the city, Read More …
ANA launches effort to retake Kunduz A day after the capital of Kunduz, or parts of it, fell to the Taliban, the Afghan army has begun an effort to retake it. US airpower will help but neither Washington nor Kabul wants to see the city flattened. Over the last Read More …
Taliban seize parts of Kunduz city The Taliban have been operating boldly in Kunduz province, though not the city. But they have seized parts of the city, hoisting their flags in the city center. It’s unlikely they will be able to hold it. The pattern over the last few years has Read More …
Close on the heels of last April’s China-Pakistan agreement to build a communication corridor connecting the two countries, comes word of a similar arrangement. India, Iran, and Afghanistan have agreed to build a corridor running from northwestern Afghanistan to the Iranian port of Chabahar. The deal comes shortly after the P5+1 nuclear Read More …
Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Syria to coordinate against ISIL This announcement is bound to annoy Washington as it brings Russia further into the Middle East. It stems in part from Washington’s refusal to see that ousting Assad is less important than combating/defeating ISIL. Don’ expect much to come of this Read More …
Saudi and Yemeni troops clash The Houthis are losing ground in the south and the capital of Sanaa will soon be besieged. However, the Houthis have struck along the northern border with Saudi Arabia, thereby punishing the Saudis for their bombing campaign and support for southern Sunnis. US-backed troops in Read More …