In numbers that appear backwards, a UK-based war monitor has claimed that Russian airstrikes have killed over 18,000 people over the past three years, including around 8,000 civilians, 5,000 ISIS fighters, and 5,000 other rebel fighters. Russia, on the other hand, claims that it has killed far more “terrorists,” placing

The U.S. has around 2,200 boots on the ground in Syria, most of them allocated towards the fight against ISIS. National Security Advisor John Bolton has announced, however, that U.S. forces will remain in the country “as long as Iranian troops are outside Iranian borders, and that includes Iranian proxies

A major power has not fought a major war against another major power for decades. And while this longstanding “great power peace” has been accompanied by measureless benefits (avoiding nuclear war, etc.), one challenge is that new weapons remain largely untested on the battlefield. With the rapid technological advancements of

In early September, Russia threatened operations or precision strikes within the deconfliction zone, home to deployed US soldiers, after accusing the US-led coalition there of harboring terrorists. Responding to these threats, the US carried out a large show-of-force exercise. Since these exercises, there has been no further threats or contact

The German Bundeswhr may join France, the U.K., and the U.S. in possible airstrikes on Syrian targets if the Syrian government deploys chemical weapons. Participation is supported by Angela Merkel and the CDU, who has otherwise opposed German involved in the conflict as it puts them in direct confrontation with

Turkey is preparing for cross-border fallout from the ongoing Syrian-Russian-Iranian assault on neighboring Idlib, the last remaining rebel stronghold in the country. Turkey also has troops stationed in observation posts within Idlib, which it expects to deter some Syrian offensive actions. Syria, however, has continued consolidated power over most of

Trump will have a range of strike options to choose from, as the Pentagon prepares potential kinetic responses to the Syrian government’s threatened use of chemical weapons in Idlib. The American position in the country vis-à-vis Russia and Iran has remained tense, and the use of chemical weapons, plus any

As IS fighters regroup and form pockets across Iraq and Syria, the organization and its affiliates are renewing aggressive attacks on security forces and oil fields. Adapting to its “defeat” according to its original strategy of holding and conquering territory, the organization has continued financing and transitioned to rearming and

Russian jets struck several targets connected to an al-Qaida affiliated group in the Idlib province of Syria. The targets included a weapons depot and drone launch pad. Russia has stated that they have shot down dozens of hostile drones in the area, suggesting an uptick in their use by these

Israel has carried out over 200 airstrikes against Iranian positions in Syria over the past year and a half, according to the IDF. The strikes were report reportedly conducted to prevent the consolidation of Iranian positions across the area and interrupt arms smuggling. While these strikes have decreased recently, recent