U.S. coalition hands over Camp Taji to Iraqi Security Forces

The U.S.-led international coalition formally withdrew from Iraq’s Taji military base on Sunday. The coalition handed the base over to Iraqi security forces, coalition and local news reported. The base, 17 miles north of Baghdad, had been the site of frequent rocket attacks, in recent months, by Iran-backed militias targeting U.S.-led troops. Despite the long-term […]

Islamic State and al-Qaeda terrorists fight it out in the Sahel

This article was written by Ana Maria Baloi and originally published on Grey Dynamics.  Why Does This Matter The Islamic State’s (IS) newspaper al-Naba reported that heavy fighting between the IS-affiliated Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) and al-Qaeda-aligned Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has been ongoing since 17 April 2020. ISGS blames JNIM for […]

Who guards the Syrian Oilfields?

In an effort to continue the implementation of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and bolster the strength of U.S.-backed Syrian forces, officials want to continue to train and increase the number of allied fighters. As a part of this effort, according to OIR’s Inspector General (IG) report, there is a push to build an “Oilfield Guard […]

American strategy in North Africa

This article was written by Louis Tayler and originally published on Grey Dynamics.  Key Judgements AFRICOM’s mission in North Africa is to limit the instability caused by the second Libyan Civil War. This mission has achieved some measure of success. AFRICOM, and by extension, the United States, has a de-facto neutrality policy regarding the second Libyan […]

30 years ago Iraq invaded Kuwait and changed the Middle East forever

In the mid-summer of 1990, Saddam Hussein made a decision that changed the face of the Middle East and sealed the fate of Iraq and his own rule. In the early morning hours of August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait and in a lightning operation, quickly took over the country in just two days.  […]

Iraqi TV shows clips of dead American soldiers & burned vehicles

An animated video, which is an obvious threat for the United States to get out of Iraq, was shown on al Etejah Television. The short 45-second video portrays American troops as occupiers and the fist of Kata’ib Hezbollah, wrapped in the Iraqi and Hezbollah flags, smashing American vehicles and tanks with the slogan, “expel the […]

US drone strike kills 7 Islamic State fighters in Somalia

On Thursday, the United State’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) in coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, conducted an airstrike against ISIS terrorists from the Islamic State in Somalia (ISS). The airstrike took place as Somalian Puntland Security Forces (PSF) were conducting an operation in a remote location in the Iskushuban area of the Bari region near […]

AFRICOM: The battle for Central Africa

This article was written by Jesutimilehin Akamo and originally published on Grey Dynamics.  Key Judgements It is almost certain that most of central Africa is unstable. While Sao Tome and Principe has remained peaceful in the last decade, other countries in the region are either at the brink of conflict or have active conflicts. Oil, […]

British SAS commandos kill 100 ISIS Jihadists in silent campaign

The British SAS have been conducting several operations in the hilly, remote part of northern Iraq. They have been targeting ISIS leadership in an attempt to stop the terrorist group’s resurgence. ISIS has been largely, but not completely eradicated from Iraq.  The U.K. special operators have been working closely with Kurdish resistance fighters who have […]

Russian patrol in Syria ambushed by massive IED

A joint Russian-Turkish vehicle patrol in northwest Syria’s Idlib Province was hit with a massive improvised explosive device (IED) on Tuesday morning at 0850 hours local time. Three Russian troops and several Turks were injured in the blast. Both Russian and Turkish vehicles were damaged in the attack.  Although the Russians and Turks support opposing […]

Iranian-led militias attack & destroy US logistical convoy in Iraq

An American logistical convoy was attacked in Iraq on Saturday night. Unidentified assailants, believed to be members of an Iranian proxy militia, burned all three of the convoy’s trucks. The three large trucks carrying vehicles and logistical materials were ambushed between Diwaniya and Samawah while en route from Basra. Before setting the trucks on fire […]

Iran to ensure the air defense of Syria after new pact

The governments of Iran and Syria have signed a pact to strengthen military and defense cooperation. The deal was signed on Wednesday in Damascus by Iran’s armed forces chief, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and Syrian Defense Minister, Ali Abdullah Ayyoub. Bagheri said that the military agreement is aimed at “fighting terrorism and countering American pressure.” […]