Major news out of Iraq is getting drowned out by falling oil price coverage. The Kurdish Regional Government and Iraq’s central government today reached an agreement on exporting oil and sharing revenue. The KRG will release 500,000 or 550,000 barrels of oil per day (reports conflict on this here and here) to Iraq’s State Oil… Keep reading →
Ankara’s security and political concerns may drive it to establish buffer zones unilaterally, while Washington’s hesitance could cost it a coalition. Since the armed phase of the rebellion against Bashar al-Assad began in summer 2011, Turkey has been intent on setting up safe havens and accompanying no-fly zones in northern Syria to protect areas held… Keep reading →
The US military and its regional allies conducted additional airstrikes against ISIS-controlled oil infrastructure in Syria and Iraq. “The U.S. said on Sunday that its forces along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates targeted four modular refineries and a command facility north of Raqqa—Islamic State’s de facto capital in northeastern Syria. The U.S.… Keep reading →
The US military partnered with Saudi Arabia and the UAE on air strikes that bombed 12 “teapot” refineries in eastern Syria reportedly used as part of ISIS’ underground oil operations. These small modular refineries – producing 300 to 500 barrels per day of refined products – are major sources of funding for the extremists, generating “as… Keep reading →
In case you missed it, the United Nations held its Climate Summit at the New York headquarters yesterday where world leaders discussed carbon emissions reduction commitments, building momentum leading up to major international climate meetings in Peru later this year and France next year. “Experts say that in the coming months, the clearest indication of… Keep reading →
Washington should keep pressuring Baghdad to make early, ungrudging goodwill gestures toward the Kurds instead of reverting to hardball negotiations and broken promises. A vital first step in defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) is the consolidation of a base of operations in Iraqi Kurdistan, which is ideally positioned as a launch… Keep reading →
Deemed one of the most-well-funded terrorist networks, the Islamist State in Syria and Iraq is reportedly making millions of dollars daily from smuggling, stealing, refining and selling oil. Completely shutting down their vast operation appears unlikely according to expert consensus. “When Islamic State fighters stormed across the Syrian border into Iraq and seized Mosul, a… Keep reading →
The suggestion that ISIS-related militants could team up with Mexican drug cartels to disable the US power grid for an extended period of time seems a bit alarmist, but worth noting, particularly in light of 2 recent substation attacks in California. US power grid vulnerability, be it from cyber attack or direct assault, has been… Keep reading →
Such a program should strengthen the moderate opposition militarily and enhance its political and informational capabilities, while disrupting Salafi-jihadist recruitment. The Obama administration’s decision in June to ask Congress for $500 million to train and equip vetted elements of the Syrian armed opposition signals a potential turning point in U.S. policy in the Middle East.… Keep reading →
Washington should look for small changes in Kuwait and Qatar’s political and security calculus that could provide opportunities to support counter-terrorist financing measures there. On April 30, the U.S. State Department noted that private donations from Persian Gulf countries were “a major source of funding for Sunni terrorist groups, particularly…in Syria,” calling the problem one… Keep reading →
