National Security Advisor McMaster weighs in on international threat environment

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster has kept mostly out of the headlines since assuming his position earlier this year, which is unfortunate, as he is uniquely capable among his peers in the administration of communicating foreign policy positions in a palatable, and perhaps less abrasive way than the president himself. Speaking before the annual meeting […]

Syria, Russia Accuse US of “Provocation” in Chemical Weapons Attack

The latest war of words between Washington, Moscow, and Damascus occurred on Thursday. The Syrian government of President Assad along with their Russian allies accused the United States of manufacturing a “provocation” in Syria. This was to be blamed on Assad and his government of preparing a chemical weapons attack as an excuse for the […]

Pentagon plan to defeat ISIS looks very much like Obama’s approach

The Pentagon is putting the final touches on a promised new counter-Islamic State strategy for Syria and Iraq, and it looks very much like the one the Obama administration pursued, according to senior defense officials. The core of the strategy is to deny territory to the militants and ultimately defeat them, and to stay out […]

Watch: Female YPJ sniper laughs after near miss from ISIS round

Reports of female war fighters, particularly snipers, participating in the ongoing fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria have made their rounds in the media since 2014.  Often, these reports contain pictures of a well made-up young woman posed like a swimsuit model with her rifle, and tend to originate in less-than-reputable media outlets like […]

Turkey returns fire on Kurdish YPG in Syria’s Afrin: broadcaster

Turkey’s military returned fire against members of the Kurdish YPG militia near Syria’s Afrin region overnight, broadcaster Haberturk reported early on Wednesday, citing military sources. It was not clear whether there were any casualties. Turkish officials could not immediately be reached for comment on the report, which said Turkey’s military retaliated after YPG fighters opened […]

Coalition Accused of Killing Syrians Civilians on Prison Airstrike

An English group that monitors the Syrian Civil War has reported that a coalition airstrike Monday on an Islamic State prison in eastern Syria killed dozens of prisoners. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, claims the dawn strike killed 42 prisoners and 15 militants near Mayadeen in Dair Alzour province. The US coalition has said that it […]

US raids on ISIS revealing valuable intelligence

The United States Special Operations forces are increasingly targeting usable intelligence when going after mid-to-senior level ISIS members in an effort to gain an edge in the war against the shadowy terrorist organization. A raid in April to capture Abdurakhmon Uzbeki, a close confidante, and associate of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Uzbeki however, didn’t allow himself […]

White House warns Syria’s Assad ahead of potential chemical attack

The Assad regime in Syria appears to be taking the initial steps necessary to launch a chemical weapons attack, the White House said in a statement late on Monday. The actions, if taken, would mean Assad and his government would “pay a heavy price,” the statement issued by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer reads. […]

Israel hits Syrian targets after Assad troops hit Israel with artillery fire

The Israeli’s wasted little time striking the military troops of embattled Syrian President Assad after the spillover from the civil war had the Syrians shelling Israeli territory. Israeli forces destroyed two tanks after the shelling hit on the Israel side of the Golan Heights. “With the IDF action today, we are making our policy clear […]

Israel Hits Syrian Targets After Assad Troops Hit Israel With Artillery Fire

The Israeli’s wasted little time striking the military troops of embattled Syrian President Assad after the spillover from the civil war had the Syrians shelling Israeli territory. Israeli forces destroyed two tanks after the shelling hit on the Israel side of the Golan Heights. “With the IDF action today, we are making our policy clear […]

US Raids on ISIS Revealing Valuable Intelligence

The United States Special Operations forces are increasingly targeting usable intelligence when going after mid-to-senior level ISIS members in an effort to gain an edge in the war against the shadowy terrorist organization. A raid in April to capture Abdurakhmon Uzbeki, a close confidante, and associate of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Uzbeki however, didn’t allow himself […]