IRGC Special Forces officer’s death highlights involvement in Syria

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has confirmed the death of a senior Iranian Special Forces officer in Syria. Colonel Second Class Mohammad-Reza Zarealvani was a member of the Ground Forces (IRGC-GF) Saberin unit who was killed during an “advisory operation” on Sept. 27, according to a statement by the IRGC’s Ansar al Hossein Corps (Hamedan province). The IRGC continues to […]

Petraeus: ‘It’s not too late’ for a no-fly zone in Syria

Former CIA Director David Petraeus on Wednesday said “it’s not too late” for a safe zone or no-fly zone to stop Russian and regime bombing in Syria. “People keep asking, ‘Is it too late?’ And the answer is no, it’s not too late,” he toldPBS host Charlie Rose. “It’s not too late to declare a safe […]

Russia warns against US attack on Syrian forces

Russia warned the United States Saturday against carrying out any attacks on Syrian government forces, saying it would have repercussions across the Middle East as government forces captured a hill on the edge of the northern city of Aleppo under the cover of airstrikes. Meanwhile, airstrikes on Aleppo struck a hospital in the eastern rebel-held […]

Syria conflict: Aleppo hospital ‘hit by barrel bombs’

An air raid on the rebel-held eastern half of the Syrian city of Aleppo has hit the area’s largest hospital for the second time in a matter of days, a medical charity says. The Syrian American Medical Society, which supports the hospital, said it had been struck by barrel bombs. The same facility was hit in […]

U.S.-Russian diplomacy set to fail in Syria, leaving only war.

Don’t poke the bear. The Russians predictably will go the course in Syria. The U.S. is getting close to shutting the current diplomatic process as battles in Aleppo rage onward. “U.S. officials say they are considering tougher responses to the Russian-backed Syrian government assault, including military options, although they have described the range of possible responses […]

Tunisia, birthplace of Arab Spring, teetering on instability again.

Tunisia housed the spark that began the Arab Spring. It created a cascade effect that eventually influenced a myriad of events – to include Syria. Today, the Middle East has crashed so badly that a terrorist commander of Al-Nusra is telling a German reporter the United States is arming the jihadis. The Middle East is so […]

“America is on our side,” Al-Nusra fighter claims

Al-Nusra commander claims to have received support from the West via western-backed partner nations. Whether or not it’s true, it’s worth considering. It might be hogwash. But an Al-Nusra fighter tells a German reporter that, essentially, the West is behind them. But, also, ISIS and there’s more, too. There’s no doubt that Al-Nusra has a […]

Soldiers deploying to Iraq re-enter Gas chamber

In Basic Combat Training (BCT) everyone enters and exits the gas chamber. When doing so, everyone breathes in the gas – and a deeply uncomfortable sensation ensues. It’s terrible and jarring in your first go-around. I know no one without exception enjoys the experience. Because of a single shell with remnants of a harmful chemical […]

Iraqi Shiite militia commander close to Qassem Soleimani killed in Aleppo

Asa’ib Ahl al Haq (AAH), a prominent Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militia, confirmed the death of one of its field commanders, Mohammad-Bagher Soleimani, in Aleppo, Syria, on Sept. 22. He was close to Qassem Soleimani (no relation), commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Qods Force, which is the Guard’s extraterritorial operations branch. AAH announced in a […]

Kurds won’t have friends as ISIL fades to the background

The Kurds ought to be our focus in the Middle East. They’re legitimately our friends. At this point, it’s clear we don’t know the Middle East better than Middle Easterners. But, we do know who has performed and helped us in the past. We ought to give the Kurds some measure of solidarity, because once […]