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Analysis: Don’t over-concentrate US forces in the Middle East
US military bases in the Persian Gulf confront two challenges, one military and the other political. FDD’s Ryan Brobst, Bradley Bowman, and Behnam Ben Taleblu survey the two challenges and propose a way to address them.
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U.S. reinserts troops in Somalia after long-awaited elections are completed
On May 15, Somalia completed its election process, selecting Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new president. Sheikh previously served as president of Somalia from 2012 until 2017 and defeated the incumbent Farmajo in a long-awaited and contentious election.
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Analysis: Gen. Nicholson says US strategy in Afghanistan ‘is working,’ despite the facts
At a Pentagon press conference, General Nicholson again gave a Pollyannish assessment of the state of Afghanistan. He claimed the peace process is working and the Taliban’s offensive is failing, and took credit for a Taliban victory over the Islamic State.
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Analysis: Pentagon continues to underestimate al Qaeda, downplay ties to Taliban
The Pentagon and the US intelligence community have been consistently wrong about al Qaeda’s strength in Afghanistan, and evidence of strategic ties between the two groups does indeed exist.
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US military hits Islamic State mortar team near Mosul school
The announcement is part of a US military effort to stay ahead of criticism from media and international non-governmental organizations for striking jihadists as they use protected sites to attack allied forces.
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US launches ‘self-defense strike’ against Shabaab in southern Somalia
The Obama administration and US military leaders continue to attempt to hide direct combat operations behind the mission of advising and assisting the “counterterrorism operations” of foreign governments and militaries.
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US claims 10,000 Islamic State fighters killed since start of air campaign
If true, US intelligence assessments on the strength of the Islamic State are grossly underestimated.
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US support for Iranian-backed Shiite militias ‘should not alarm us,’ General Allen says
US officials and generals continue to downplay the involvement of Iranian-backed Shiite militias in offensives in Iraq, and their dominance of the Popular Mobilization Committee.
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‘Iraqi forces not driven from Ramadi, they drove out of Ramadi’
The US military is issuing bizarre spin about events in both Iraq and Syria.
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‘Strategy to defeat Islamic State is working,’ US Department of Defense claims
The poorly timed DoD report was issued the same day that the Islamic State took control of the government center, and two days before all of Ramadi, including the Anbar Operations Command and the large military base there, were overrun.
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US to keep more troops in Afghanistan than planned: officials
US to keep more troops in Afghanistan than planned: officials
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Pentagon in damage control mode after detailing Iraq offensive
Pentagon in damage control mode after detailing Iraq offensive
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Pentagon spokesman portrays Guantanamo recidivism as a good thing
The death of Mullah Khadim, who was released from Guantanamo eight years ago, is “another great example” of jihadists who “return to the battlefield and to the fight at their own peril,” according to Admiral Kirby.
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US Military
Pentagon loses track of weaponry sent to Yemen in recent years
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US drone strike targets Shabaab’s external operations chief
Yusuf Dheeq, the head of Shabaab’s Amniyat, which directs the group’s intelligence and external operations activities, was the target of the strike. His fate is unknown.
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Islamic State admits its forces withdrew from Kobane
Two fighters featured in an Islamic State video credited the air campaign by the US-led Coalition with forcing their retreat.
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Afghanistan
Top US commander in Afghanistan: ISIS recruiting in Afghanistan, Pakistan
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Afghanistan
From resupply to evacs, Afghan air support assumes growing role
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Islamic State
Libya’s ISIS branch claims execution of 2 Tunisian journalists
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Afghanistan
Remnants of Bagram Airfield
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Iraq
US troops training Iraqi military at bases in Anbar, Taji
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US Military
US Drone Fleet at ‘Breaking Point,’ Air Force Says
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Iraq
US advisers in Iraq stay out of combat but see fighting edging closer
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US military confirms Shabaab’s intel chief killed in airstrike
The US military described Tahlil Abdishakur as the “chief of al-Shabaab’s intelligence and security wing” and the head of the group’s “external operations.”
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Somali government reports Shabaab’s intel chief killed in US airstrike
Somalia’s National Security Agency said that the US killed the leader of the Amniyat. The US military later confirmed the report.
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Afghanistan
US airstrikes remain crucial to Afghan forces in Taliban battles
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Islamic State
In Battle to Defang ISIS, US Targets Its Psychology
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Iraq
No Way Out for Iraqis Who Helped US in War
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Afghanistan
ISAF Air Support Helpful in Dangam Operations: Afghan Ministry of Defense
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Afghanistan
Taliban Push Into Afghan Districts That US Had Secured
