Creative Threatcasting Scenario (CTS) – CTS is a strategic foresight method, inspired by the work of the West Point Military Academy’s Threatcasting Lab. Based on current events and trend analysis, CTS develops creative narratives about possible futures. By creating tangible scenarios, CTS helps to anticipate watershed moments and prepare for upcoming threats. Download the full […]
Preliminary – Battle Damage Assessment (P-BDA) – On April 29, 2018, 2230 local time, a round of unclaimed military strikes pounded locations jointly operated by the Bashar al-Assad regime and Iran in Syria. The targeted sites are: the 47th Brigade Military Base in Hama province (Objective-Alpha/ O-A) and the Zeido Auto Test Center near Aleppo […]
1 May 2018
Hama, Hezbollah, Homs, IAF, Iran, Israel, Israeli-Iranian Shadow War, Jordan, syria, Syrian Civil War, T-4, unclaimed air strikes, US
AFTER-ACTION REPORT – At 4:20 Damascus time, April 14, 2018, a joint Air and Naval operation of the United States of America (USA), Republic of France and the United Kingdom of Great Britain (UK) launched air strikes and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TALM) from assets present in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, as well as […]
18 April 2018
Bazreh, Chemical weapons, Douma, France, Iran, President Donald J. Trump, red line, retaliation, russia, strike, syria, Syrian Civil War, UK, US
Urgent Briefing (4 min read) – A small pocket of land in eastern Damascus (also known as “Eastern Ghouta” is now the scene of the newest humanitarian catastrophy and intense military assault in Syria. In mid-February, Iranian and Russian-backed Syrian governmental troops have moved armed divisions and infantrymen from Idlib province to the exclave of Eastern Ghouta, […]
22 February 2018
Aleppo, assad, cease fire, de-escalation, Eastern Damascus, Eastern Ghouta, forces, Geneva, humanitarian crisis, Iran, pro-governmental, Rebels, russia, Siege, surrender-or-starve, Syrian Civil War, United Nations
The faith of Afrin, Syria’s northwestern corner, remains in the balance. The Kurdish militia, YPG, has struck a deal with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) to enter Afrin, in a bid to deter and counter further Turkish advancements. Reports claim that SAA elements have already entered Afrin canton and are establishing outposts. 1. Just a month ago, the […]
19 February 2018
Afrin, Assad regime, deterrence, Free Syrian Army, HTS, Idlib, Kurds, Operation Olive Branch, pro-governmental, Rebels, russia, syria, Syrian Forces, Turkish attack
The Turkish military intervention to clear Afrin has stagnated in the past weeks. Spearheaded by Syrian Rebels, operation Olive Branch failed to capture more than a few pockets of lands on the borderlands. While the Kurdish defenses played a role, the key input in this deceleration can only be found in Idlib province. Russia and […]
12 February 2018
Afrin, Idlib, Iran, Kurds, Operation Olive Branch, PKK, russia, syria, Syrian Civil War, Syrian Rebels, turkey, Turkish air strikes, US, YPG
Strategic Analysis (20 min read) – The Syrian quagmire is nearing the end. The Assad regime is quasi-victorious with more than half of the national territory regained and over 75% of the Syrian population under its control. The Opposition forces are utterly degraded and boxed into a few isolated patches of land in the western […]
10 January 2018
A2/AD, Cold War 2, isis, Latakia, Mediterranean Sea, Moscow, NATO, permanent presence in Syria, Rebels, russia, Russian air strikes, syria, Syrian Civil War, Tartus
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) have ousted the Kurdish Pashmerga forces from key areas that they have expanded to throughout the anti-ISIS campaign: Mosul Dam, Kirkuk, Sinjar and the Nineveh plains. These events are relevant to comprehend the ongoing tensions within the anti-ISIS camp in Iraq, and subsequently Iran’s asserting geopolitical order. Erbil’s […]
18 October 2017
Iran, Iraqi Security Forces, Kirkuk, Kurdistan Independence, Pashmerga, PMU, Shia militias, turkey, US
Situation Report – On September 9, the Syrian Arab Coalition (SAC) of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have announced the start of Operation “Storm of Jazzira/ Cizre” or “Jazzira Storm” to liberate eastern Syria and Deir ez-Zor province from ISIS. This offensive was rumored to be under wraps for several months but it became an urgent […]
11 September 2017
Coalition, Da'esh, Deir ez-Zor, Deir Ezzor Military Council, Eastern Syria, Euphrates Valley, Hasakha, Inherent Resolve, Iran, isis, Mayadin, Raqqa, russia, SAC, SDF, syria, US, YPG
Urgent Briefing – The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has conducted another Shadow-raid on the Syrian regime’s positions. The target was a chemical site in Hama province. It has been announced by the Bashar al-Assad Regime that the Israeli Air Force conducted air strikes from the Lebanese airspace on a military objective in eastern Masyaf, Hama province. While […]
7 September 2017
assad, bombed, Chemical weapons, clandestine, Damascus, Hezbollah, IAF, IDF, Iran, Israel, Israeli jets, Israeli-Iranian Shadow War, Jerusalem, syria, Syrian Civil War