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France Sends SCALP-EG Missiles to Ukraine
Kyiv’s new French-supplied missiles will help the Ukrainian military degrade Russian logistics and command and control.
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Has Russia Begun Producing Iranian-Designed Suicide Drones?
New evidence suggests Moscow is getting closer to producing Iranian-designed suicide drones in Russia.
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Russia’s National Guard to Get Tanks Following Wagner Mutiny
The head of Russia’s National Guard said his troops will receive tanks and other heavy equipment following Wagner’s mutiny.
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Kyiv Strikes Key Bridge Connecting Crimea to Mainland Ukraine
The Ukrainian military on Thursday struck a key bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast. The strike aims to degrade Russia’s ability to resist the counteroffensive Kyiv launched earlier this month. On Thursday morning, Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed head of Kherson Oblast, shared footage showing a large hole in the Chonhar road bridge. An older, parallel road bridge that’s not in operation also sustained damage. There’s no indication that a nearby rail bridge, located a few miles to the southwest, was damaged. The strike appears to have occurred around 5 AM that morning. Russian investigators…
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Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Two Weeks In
Two weeks into its counteroffensive, Ukraine has made some initial gains while also suffering losses. The operation has yet to reach its decisive phase.
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Ukraine’s Counteroffensive Has Likely Begun
Ukraine launched a flurry of localized offensives across the battlefield on June 4 and 5, most notably in Russian-occupied southern Donetsk Oblast. These attacks likely aim merely to probe Russian defenses or divert Russia’s attention from a forthcoming larger offensive. Nevertheless, the early stages of Kyiv’s much-anticipated counteroffensive appear to have begun. Ukraine reportedly launched assaults in or around Mar’inka, Avdiivka, and Bakhmut. In the south, Russian sources said Ukraine conducted small-scale reconnaissance-in-force near Mala Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and stepped up incursions across the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast. In addition, groups of Russian nationals fighting for Ukraine conducted…
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How Much Can Iranian Artillery Ammo Help Russia?
Moscow is allegedly looking to Iran to help redress its artillery ammo shortage. But while Iranian supplies can help, they likely can’t sustain Russia’s current rate of fire.
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Generation Jihad Ep. 86 — An update on Russia’s war in Ukraine
Host Bill Roggio is joined again by John Hardie, deputy director of FDD’s Russia Program, to discuss the latest developments from Russia’s war in Ukraine, including Russia’s recent change in command of its forces.
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Moscow Shakes Up Command of Its Forces in Ukraine (Again)
Moscow’s latest command shake-up likely reflects internal power politics and bodes poorly for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
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Estimating Russia’s Kh-101 Production Capacity
Data from downed Kh-101 cruise missiles suggests that despite sanctions, Russian production of these (and perhaps other) missiles not only persists but may be greater than some previously thought.
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Iranian Shahed-136 Drones Increase Russian Strike Capacity and Lethality in Ukraine
While it will not change the conflict’s overall direction, the Shahed-136 has bolstered Russia’s long-range precision strike capacity while providing some additional capability against front-line targets.
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Generation Jihad Ep. 81 — An update on Russia’s war in Ukraine
Host Bill Roggio is again joined by John Hardie, deputy director of FDD’s Russia Program, to discuss the latest from Russia’s war in Ukraine, including Putin’s announcements on mobilization and additional annexations as well as other developments from the battlefield.
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In an About-Face, Russia Announces Mobilization and ‘Referendums’ in Occupied Ukrainian Territories
In a televised address on Wednesday morning, President Vladimir Putin promised to ensure the security of upcoming “referendums” in occupied Ukrainian territories and declared Russia would conduct a “partial mobilization.” These announcements represent an about-face from the Kremlin’s position on these issues mere days ago, likely reflecting Putin’s realization that drastic measures are necessary to avoid defeat in Ukraine. While mobilization likely will not buy victory for the Kremlin, it could enable Moscow to sustain the war and hold already occupied territory, although mobilized Russian troops will take time to arrive on the battlefield in large numbers. After railing against…
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Ukraine’s Counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson and the Road Ahead
Ukraine’s stunning victory in Kharkiv Oblast has reshaped the battlefield and dealt a powerful blow to Vladimir Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to wage a more gradual but no less important counteroffensive in southern Ukraine. This analysis will unpack them both and highlight some factors that will shape the road ahead. Kharkiv Counteroffensive The Ukrainian General Staff, with Western assistance, formulated a plan to retake territory on two fronts: Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine and Kharkiv Oblast in the east. For months, Kyiv telegraphed its intention to launch a counteroffensive in Kherson, while keeping its plans in…
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Generation Jihad Ep. 65 — CDR Salamander on the Ukraine War
Host Bill Roggio is joined by Commander Salamander, a retired U.S. Navy Commander. Since 2003, like Bill, Sal has been closely tracking and analyzing military issues on his “Commander Salamander” blog and is widely seen as a trailblazer in the arena. The two discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine following Putin’s invasion.
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Generation Jihad Ep. 64 — Minority Report: Ukraine
Bill Roggio provides an update on the current situation in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, including a clear-eyed and sober analysis of what’s actually happening on the ground. Bill reminds listeners that the West must understand the enemy and how — if we want to help Ukraine — we must be honest about its predicament.
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Generation Jihad Ep. 18 – What We Don’t Know About Russian Bounties
Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss reports saying that Russia offered bounties to Taliban fighters to attack Americans.
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Russian air defense systems outmatched by Turkish drones in Syria and Libya
After many years of conflict in Syria and Libya, the involvement of Turkey, Russia and other powers is leading to increasingly sophisticated clashes between the latest UAV and air defense technology. The use of new technology has ramifications for future conflicts in the Middle East and provides an emerging model for how regional powers are fighting proxy wars to redraw the balance of power in the region.
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Turkey’s Operation “Spring Shield” delivers blow to Hezbollah
Recently, Hezbollah has suffered losses it has not seen in years of fighting in Syria.
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Russian special forces train Palestinian militia in Syria
Russian special forces are reported to have held a training event for the pro-regime Palestinian militia, Liwa al Quds.
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Russia says gas leak likely caused apartment explosion claimed by Islamic State
The Russian government says that a gas leak was most likely responsible for an explosion at an apartment building in Magnitogorsk on Dec. 31. On Jan. 17, the Islamic State claimed that the incident was really an “operation” conducted by the Islamic State’s Caucasus province.
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Analysis: Jihadists in Syria react to Sochi agreement
Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS), the most powerful jihadist organization in Idlib province, has finally issued a statement addressing the agreement reached between Turkey and Russia last month. HTS vows to continue waging jihad, and warns that it doesn’t trust Russia’s “intentions,” but does not directly repudiate the Sochi accord.
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Islamic State claims church shooting in Dagestan
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a shooting at a church in Kizlyar, a town in Dagestan, earlier today. Russian officials have confirmed that at least five people were killed and four more wounded.
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Russia and Iran help capture Syria’s al Mayadin from Islamic State
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Russia have spearheaded the operation to capture the Islamic State-held city of al Mayadeen in Deir Ezzor province, eastern Syria.
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Russia struck Syrian Democratic Forces in eastern Syria, US says
The US says that Russian forces struck and wounded several fighters belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The incident highlights the fact that despite “de-confliction,” the US and Russia are often not on the same page in Syria.
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Hezbollah and allies parade in Deir Ezzor, Syria
Hezbollah forces and its militia allies can be seen parading in the streets of Deir Ezzor after lifting the siege of the city. Syrian regime soldiers, who had been under the siege since 2014, praise Hezbollah and Hassan Nasrallah for their role in the operation.
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Israeli airstrikes target suspected chemical weapons facility in Syria
Israel struck a suspected chemical weapons facility near Masyaf, Syria earlier today. The facility may have been run by the Syrian regime’s Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC), which has been sanctioned by the US government for its role in producing chemical weapons and the means to deploy them.
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Pakistan suffers diplomatic defeat as BRICS names regional terrorist groups
The blow comes just two weeks after President Trump called out Pakistan for providing “safe haven” for terrorist groups operating in the region and advocated for closer ties with India.
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Russian terrorist swore allegiance to Baghdadi before stabbing assault
An Islamic State production featuring the young man responsible for stabbing rampage in the Russian city of Surgat is similar to past videos released by the group. The jihadist swore allegiance to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi before his day of terror. The video also contains a clip of a young Russian child beheading a captive.
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Sending more troops to Afghanistan is a good start
A complete US withdrawal from Afghanistan would have been disastrous. The US government needs to drastically reassess America’s jihadist enemies and avoid the policy pitfalls of the past.
