Hezbollah

The case against war with Iran (Part 1)

Former CIA officer Sam Faddis recently wrote a piece here on SOFREP entitled, “The Coming War with Iran.”  Contrary to the article’s title, and even to some of the admittedly bellicose language within the piece (whether justified or not), Mr. Faddis was not advocating for a war with Iran.  The thrust of the article, rather, […]

The coming war with Iran

When President Obama sold the disastrous Iran nuclear deal to the American people he famously described it in these terms. We could support the deal and opt for peace, or we could oppose the deal and choose war. It was a simple binary choice, and only a madman would decide to begin a war, which […]

Iran holds military exercises in response to U.S. sanctions

ISTANBUL — Iran on Saturday began extensive military exercises in a defiant response to a week of warnings from the Trump administration, including new sanctions, with a senior Iranian military commander calling the actions “futile” and threatening to “rain” missiles down on the country’s enemies. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s most influential security institution, […]

Pentagon chief advocates restraint in response to Iran, China

TOKYO — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Saturday that the threat from Iran’s missile program does not currently require the realignment of U.S. forces in the Middle East, striking a note of restraint shortly after the White House issued a strong warning to Tehran. Mattis, on a three-day visit to South Korea and Japan, echoed […]

Israeli settlements grew on Obama’s watch. They may be poised for a boom on Trump’s.

SHILOH, West Bank — Through eight years of escalating criticism from the world’s most powerful leader, Israeli construction in these sacred, militarily occupied hills never stopped. Thousands of homes were built. Miles of roadway. Restaurants. Shopping malls. A university. Here in Shiloh, a tourist center went up, with a welcome video in which the biblical figure Joshua […]

CIA chief warns Trump: Scrapping Iran deal ‘height of folly’

The director of the CIA has warned US President-elect Donald Trump that ending the Iran nuclear deal would be “disastrous” and “the height of folly.” In a BBC interview, John Brennan also advised the new president to be wary of Russia’s promises, blaming Moscow for much of the suffering in Syria. In his campaign, Mr […]

Your Thanksgiving turkey may have ties to terrorism

This week the Wall Street Journal reported the company that owns half of Butterball Turkey is being investigated by the Department of Justice for possible ties with a terrorist organization. Seaboard SEB has owned 50% of Butterball Turkey since 2010, and may have ties to Hezbollah through a US blacklisted individuals.  The Kansas based company mainly operates in the Americas, Africa, […]

Hezbollah ally, a Christian, elected as President of Lebanon

Buckle up.  We are about to dive head first down the rabbit hole of Lebanese politics, a task fraught always with both danger and head-spinning confusion.  I will try to make this as simple to understand as possible — including, for myself — and will do my best to avoid making any mistakes in this […]

Hezbollah takes control in Lebanon

We have for decades now understood the inherent fragility of Lebanon, a weak, divided nation-state trying desperately to contain the growing power of Hezbollah. Analysts have described the nation as in many ways, increasingly a country wrapped around a terrorist group like a thin cloak. All that ends Monday October 31, 2016. As of that […]

Is it possible to avert worsened sectarian violence in Iraq?

The battle to retake Mosul is underway and is being led by mostly Shia forces to expel ISIS. In doing so, they’ll free Sunnis – who may not like it. The sectarian violence after the battle got out of control it would spread into Syria – and vice versa. Because – the reality is – […]

Iran’s global force projection network

Iranian influence can be found around the world. It’s not ubiquitous as U.S. influence, but it is powerful. The Iranian global projection network has been in place and growing since before 9/11 and through recent tensions. The media has been focused on Sunni terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda as of late. But, if […]

Syria has no end and Damascus might never fall

Damascus has remained relatively untouched by the country’s insurgents. Its defense is rooted in Assad’s strategy, but aided by our uncoordinated policy. Syria is unique because its center of gravity is not the people. Iraq ultimately failed in part due to our failure to capture the support of the people. We ignored the Sunnis in Fallujah and expelled […]