Islamic State

The dangers of an Islamic State resurgence in Iraq and Kurdistan

Just last week, Islamic State gunmen executed 20 Iraqi’s belonging to the Shamari tribe in the town of Baaj. The Islamic State is far from finished in the region and pockets of resistance exist within Iraq as small sleeper cells that are striking terror into civilians and security forces alike. Iraqi officials have warned the local […]

Turkey intends to reopen consulates in Iraqi-Kurdistan

On Friday last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that his nation planned to reopen their consulates located in two of Iraq’s largest cities. The Mosul and Basra consulates have had their doors shut for quite some time now (approximately four years) but the move by Turkey may be in an effort to strengthen trade […]

Suicide bombing kills 14 in Afghan airport

Reports are coming in regarding another suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, this time killing 14 military and civilian bystanders, and wounding approximately another 50 more. This occurred just as Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, Afghanistan’s First Vice President, was returning from Turkey. He was unharmed. Reports on the attack are still coming in — as details […]

Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi Army destroy the Islamic State in Makhmour operation

Islamic State occupied territory near Makhmour, a region that shares a border with Iraq and Kurdistan, was cleared out earlier this week by Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Kurdish Peshmerga working unilaterally with coalition air support. Operation Inherent Resolve coalition spokesperson Colonel Sean Ryan expressed great delight at the achievement, given the circumstances. The cooperation between the […]

Islamic State suicide bomber kills Taliban commander

A suicide bomber from the Islamic State (IS, otherwise known as ISIS-K) detonated themselves in Afghanistan, somewhere to the north, according to officials who spoke to the Associated Press. 20 people were killed and among the dead lay a Taliban commander who has not yet been named. Around the same time, a “government commando unit” […]

Death toll in Pakistan suicide bombing rises to 132

Mastung, Balochistan, Pakistan — Yet another explosion from a suicide bomber tore through Pakistan on Friday, killing scores of local Pakistanis. The death toll has currently risen to 132, a devastating blow to the entire country. Over 300 people are reported to have been injured. The attack occurred at a Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) rally […]

Israel Rocked By Rocket Attacks is the Iranian Two-Front Strategy Beginning

We’ve all seen how since late Friday, Israel has been facing an unending series of rocket and mortar attacks which has kept the country on alert. Hamas from their enclaves in Gaza has launched, to date over 200 rockets and mortars on the Israeli territory around Sderot. Most of the rockets fell into open fields […]

President Assad says Syria is in dire need of reconstruction

During a meeting in Damascus on Monday with the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Walid Muallem, and various diplomats, President Bashar al-Assad announced that the primary effort should of the government will be the reconstruction of the nation and its infrastructure. President Assad stated that, “Reconstruction is the top priority in Syria, backed up by the continued […]

Fauda: Israeli Series in The War on Terror Is Gritty, Brutal, Must-Watch TV

It isn’t often that I get surprised like this weekend when a very good friend of mine mentioned the Netflix series “Fauda” that is produced in Israel. He and his wife had been watching it and called me to recommend it. The exact words were, “if you like ‘Homeland’ then you’ll love Fauda” The story […]

Green Berets and Afghan Commandos Take ISIS Stronghold

U.S. Green Berets and Afghan special operations troops captured a town that the Islamic State (ISIS) had claimed as their local capital. The large joint operation has been on-going for several weeks and culminated with the capture of Gurgoray on Saturday. No Americans or Afghan troops were killed in the offensive, which the U.S. military […]

Islamic State militants execute wedding party in Iraq

A group of Islamic State gunmen opened fire on a wedding procession returning from Diyala province last week, seven family members were killed in the attack. The ceremony was held the Buhriz district of Baghdad, just south of Baquda. Security forces are still investigating but the ambush appears to be premeditated, the gunmen specifically targeted […]

Peshmerga deny Iraqi Army forces entry into Kurdistan

The Peshmerga stationed just outside Kirkuk have been chomping at the bit to get back into the city and contribute to security efforts there. However, they have been rebuffed numerous times by the Iraqi government. Now the Iraqi Army is requesting to enter Kurdistan in an effort to hunt down Islamic State militants. Deputy commander […]