Iraq

The ISIS-controlled enclave on the east bank of the Euphrates River continues to shrink. In the city of Manbij and its environs, there has been no significant change on the ground. In the Idlib area, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham continues to establish its control, mainly at the expense of the Turkish-affiliated rebel organizations. The main event in ISIS’s provinces abroad this week was a multi-casualty attack during a ceremony in a cathedral on the island of Sulu in the southern Philippines. Read more...

The ISIS-controlled enclave on the east bank of the Euphrates River continues to shrink. The US and Kurdish forces have not yet completed their evacuation from the city of Manbij. In the Idlib area, the Headquarters for the Liberation of Al-Sham continues to consolidate its control, while weakening the Turkish-sponsored rebel organizations. Turkish President Erdoğan continues to threaten to carry out a military operation against the Kurds east of the Euphrates River Read more...

Around two weeks after President Trump announced the pull-out of the American soldiers from Syria, the attention of the key players in the Syrian arena was diverted to eastern and northern Syria/ In the city of Hajin and its environs, the SDF campaign against ISIS continues. The Kurdish-controlled city of Manbij, is attracting considerable political and military attention in the wake of the Trump statement. In the Idlib area, incidents between the Syrian army and jihadi organizations continue. According to Arab media, the Americans have begun to evacuate their soldiers from Syria to the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Read more...