Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces launch offensive near Mosul

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a largely Shia paramilitary organization under indirect control of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have launched an offensive against the Islamic State southwest of Mosul, the Long War Journal reports. The group’s presence on the battlefield, consisting of thousands of fighters from over 40 separate and predominately Shia […]

Trump hints that the US may be sabotaging North Korea’s nuclear program

It happened again — a North Korean missile launch exploded in the air, over land, just a few minutes after launching on Friday. While North Korea can still learn a lot from a failed missile test and use those lessons to advance their program, they’ve failed to demonstrate capability with missile types the US perfected […]

Iranian-born media mogul fatally shot by masked assailants in central Istanbul

ISTANBUL — An Iranian-born TV mogul who had run afoul of Iran’s government was fatally shot Saturday night by masked gunmen in Istanbul, media reports said. The identities of the assailants were unknown. But Saeed Karimian, the director of GEM Group, a Persian-language media conglomerate, was reported killed along with his Kuwaiti business partner, whose […]

The long-anticipated return of Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is here

KABUL — Fugitive warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on Saturday made his first public appearance in Afghanistan after nearly two decades underground, calling on Taliban insurgents to “join the peace caravan and stop this pointless holy war.” He also urged all political parties to reconcile and seek change “without bloodshed.” The return of Hekmatyar, 69, who spoke […]

Among Trump aides, Mattis emerges as a key voice on national security issues

When Defense Secretary Jim Mattis sat down with leaders in Saudi Arabia last week, a top White House official traveling with him offered up a new label for the Pentagon chief, who is well known as a combat-hardened former general: “favorite of the president.” The depiction from deputy national security adviser Dina Powell, however lighthearted, […]

North Korea test fires ballistic missile shortly after US-South Korea talks

US Pacific Command has confirmed that North Korea launched a missile from the Western part of the country. “US Pacific Command detected what we assess was a North Korean missile launch at 10:33 a.m. Hawaii time APR 28,” read a statement. US forces said that the missile did not leave North Korean territory after it […]

In Yemen conflict, a window into deepening U.S.-Gulf ties

When U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis greeted Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister at the Pentagon last month, the first thing he did was joke about the time “the Iranians tried to murder you.” Mattis’ reference to a foiled 2011 plot, denied by Iran, was a telling sign of how much more aligned President Donald Trump’s administration […]

PACOM commander: ‘We want to bring Kim Jong Un to his senses, not to his knees’

Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, spoke before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, calling North Korea “the most immediate threat to the security of the United States.” Harris’ remarks to the House came on the same day as a historic briefing held for all one hundred members of the Senate […]

Russia chimes in on North Korea as China increases pressure on Kim’s regime

Despite China’s complaints about the deployment of the American THAAD missile defense system in South Korea, China has continued to publicly increase pressure on the North Korean regime to do away with their nuclear weapons development program in recent weeks.  Now, Russia has joined the motley crew of nations offering their own perspective on how […]