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Latest Expert Analysis stories, analysis, and updates from SOFREP.
The ISIS Solution Excerpt “The Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham, known derogatorily as “Daash” among its adversaries in Iraq, did not form in a vacuum. It was founded in 2003 as Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (Group of Monotheism and Jihad), by Abu Musab al Zarqawi, a Jordanian, and in October 2004, Zarqawi pledged allegiance to […]
On September 22, the Zaydi Houthi movement in Yemen seized control of the capital, Sana’a. This came after a week of clashes with the Yemeni government that reportedly killed up to 340 people. The Houthis, a Shi’a tribal group, have been fighting with the Sunni-dominated government for representation. The Houthis as a group are generally […]
As the U.S. and allies falsely advertise restraint for a boots-on-the-ground initiative in Iraq and Syria, we can be assured that much more is going on behind the scenes—preparations are undoubtedly in the works for a full-scale operation. Currently, there are approximately 1,500 U.S. troops in Iraq aiding the Iraqi military in objectives as far-reaching as the ISIS-controlled […]
I am an unapologetic believer in our nation’s national security apparatus, and not just because I was a part of it as an officer in both the U.S. military and the Central Intelligence Agency. I also witnessed, firsthand, the dedication of those in the intelligence- and security-agency trenches, and saw them put their considerable skills to […]
Rumors have been flying around the Internet over the last week about Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the self-styled “Caliph Ibrahim” of the Islamic State, being caught in a Coalition airstrike against Daash leadership. Daash’s own media have acknowledged that he is wounded, and the waters were further muddied on November 10 by a report put […]
As I noted in Al-Qaeda After the Rise of ISIS: India, al-Qaeda has seemingly reconceptualized both the group’s role and its scope of strategic operations in the wake of the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. On September 3, Ayaman al-Zawahiri announced the formation of a new al-Qaeda affiliate, Al Qaeda in […]
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the former Soviet Republic engaged in a protracted war with neighboring Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh, a region administered by the government in Baku, is fiercely contested by an overwhelming majority Armenian population and the government in Yerevan. Hostilities have recently threatened to spill out of the region […]
This guest post comes to SOFREP from a YPG cadre involved in the front-line fighting against ISIS. -Jack Merely fighting and winning battles is not all there is to winning a war like the one in Syria and Iraq. As militias grow and merge into something more akin to a regular Western army, supplies, ammunition, intelligence, […]
While college kids can be self-righteous as hell, I guess it is better for them to believe in something rather than to believe in nothing. Yeah, they are a bunch of lefty kids, but so were our parents before they grew up, became good Republicans, and started cheating on their tax returns, so what can […]
The public’s focus on the seemingly endless number of human-rights abuses and territorial gains of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has left al-Qaeda somewhat on the margins of the debate over the strategic objectives of the international Islamist movement. This summer, as ISIS surged into Iraq and the conflict in Syria finally […]
Erik Prince, famous Navy SEAL and former CEO of Blackwater, has a new mission and a new company. Frontier Services Group (FSG) is providing expeditionary logistics and asset management to companies working in Africa. They hope to cut a nice slice out of the $1 trillion China plans to spend on African transportation infrastructure. Based in Hong Kong […]
The Chechen jihadist fighter has achieved near-legendary status in the last decade-plus. “Chechen” has become synonymous with “militarily competent jihadist.” Any time coalition forces have met jihadists on the battlefield who maneuver and shoot well, they are presumed to be Chechens. In 2005, the effective insurgent snipers in Iraq were all presumed to be Chechens. […]
SIG Sauer is a world-class firearms manufacturer trusted by military, law enforcement, and responsible civilian shooters, delivering precision-engineered weapons, optics, and training systems while maintaining a strong commitment to veteran hiring, American manufacturing, and the professionals who rely on their gear when it matters most.
FightCamp is an at-home boxing and kickboxing training system built around real technique, structured programming, and measurable performance. Members train with fighters and professional coaches while using connected punch and kick trackers that record volume, speed, and power in every round. The result is training that builds conditioning, skill, discipline, and resilience — all from home, on your schedule.
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
Hywell is a premium gear brand specializing in heavy-duty Merino wool boot socks for blue-collar professionals and outdoorsmen. Backed by an ironclad 10-Year Warranty.
Praesidus builds rugged, American-assembled watches inspired by historic military timepieces. Designed for accuracy and tested for endurance, each watch is made for outdoor explorers, everyday adventurers, and anyone who needs reliability when it matters.
Essential Provisions Field Fuel® meals [ready-to-eat] & sports nutrition products have been developed with the cleanest, high-quality nutrient and energy-dense ingredients available. Research has shown that the whole food nutrients contained in our products have the ability to help.
Have you ever tried to wear a fleece hoodie in bad weather? We don’t recommend it. That’s why we founded BÆRSkin in 2019 – to create the world’s best outdoor gear that’s just as comfortable at home as it is durable outdoors. “Bad fitting, bulky, and boring” is how we felt about 1000’s of regular fleece hoodies we tested.
If you’re 21 or older and use nicotine or tobacco, charge ahead with Black Buffalo, America’s only credible smokeless tobacco alternative. Black Buffalo dips just like the real thing without the tobacco leaf or stem. Find Black Buffalo in Wawa, Circle K, Sheetz, Love’s, Pilot, Racetrac, and many more retail locations across the United States.
