Tag Archives: ISIL

Opinion: How ISIS Funds Terror Through Black Market Antiquities Trade

Opinion: How ISIS Funds Terror Through Black Market Antiquities Trade

A soldier stands guard near the remains of Hatra, Iraq on June 22, 2013. Photo via Xinhua/ZUMAPRESS

A soldier stands guard near the remains of Hatra, Iraq on June 22, 2013. Photo via Xinhua/ZUMAPRESS

As coalition airstrikes attempt to curb the expansion of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL), the radical Islamist group is digging in militarily as it is simultaneously digging out priceless and irreplaceable historical antiquities—in some cases with heavy earth-moving machinery—which it sells on the black market to fund its Caliphate ambitions. By doing so, a significant amount of ISIS assets are out of reach from traditional counter terror finance measures. Read More

Syrian Military Claims to Have Destroyed Two ISIS MiGs

Syrian Military Claims to Have Destroyed Two ISIS MiGs

An undated photo of a Soviet era MiG-23 Flogger K via Wikipedia

An undated photo of a Soviet era MiG-23 Flogger K via Wikipedia

The Syrian government is claiming its air force has destroyed two out of the three Soviet-built MiG fighters captured by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). However, the claim, which was posted on the Syrian Arab Army Facebook page, could not be independently verified. Read More

Opinion: A Campaign With No Name

Opinion: A Campaign With No Name

An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Valions of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 15 takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). US Navy Photo

An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Valions of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 15 takes off from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). US Navy Photo

The first Iraq War was called Operation Desert Storm, the second Iraq war was called Operation Iraqi Freedom, but what will the third Iraq war be called? Read More

Bataan ARG Leaves U.S. 5th Fleet , Returns to Norfolk by End of Month

Bataan ARG Leaves U.S. 5th Fleet , Returns to Norfolk by End of Month

USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), left, and the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) transit the Persian Gulf on Sept. 22, 2014. US Navy Photo

USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), left, and the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) transit the Persian Gulf on Sept. 22, 2014. US Navy Photo

The three ship Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) has left U.S. Central Command and transited into the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations ahead of an expected October return to Naval Station Norfolk, Va., the U.S. Navy announced on Friday. Read More

Panel: Law Authorizing ISIS Strikes Could Be Up For Review When Congress Returns

Panel: Law Authorizing ISIS Strikes Could Be Up For Review When Congress Returns

Image from a propaganda video released on March 17, 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) via AFP.

Image from a propaganda video released on March 17, 2014 by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) via AFP.

Because the 2001 Authorization of the Use of Military Force “has no sunset” or “geographic limits,” a panel of legal scholars agreed that it likely covered President Barack Obama’s moves against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the al Qaeda cell Khorasan, but invoking the old law also opened the door for congressional review after the midterm elections. Read More

The Implications of Expanding ISIS Airstrikes Into Syria

The Implications of Expanding ISIS Airstrikes Into Syria

USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) launches a Tomahawk cruise missile as seen from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) launches a Tomahawk cruise missile as seen from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

The start of U.S. airstrikes in Syria early Tuesday morning local time marks a major expansion of the air campaign begun in northern Iraq to target the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL). Read More

Opinion: Searching for a Strategy to Defeat ISIS

Opinion: Searching for a Strategy to Defeat ISIS

An undated photo of an ISIS fighter.

An undated photo of an ISIS fighter.

The news on the crisis with Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) is moving so fast that last week’s top story on the situation now seems like ancient history. Last week global news outlets repeatedly made the point that by fighting to defeat ISIS, the United States is, by default, aiding the regime of Bashar al Assad in Syria. Read More

Terrorists are Looking for 'Simpler, Smaller Attacks'

Terrorists are Looking for ‘Simpler, Smaller Attacks’

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) fighters in Iraq.

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) fighters in Iraq.

The former director of the National Counterterrorism Center says it is important to “keep the threat in perspective,” but also to realize the Islamic State “is only one group we are concerned with.” But in his assessment, even as strong as the Islamic State has shown itself to be in Syria and Iraq, it does not pose an immediate threat to the United States homeland. Read More

Navy: Most Carrier Sorties Over Iraq Are Surveillance Missions

Navy: Most Carrier Sorties Over Iraq Are Surveillance Missions

An F/A-18C Hornet attached to the Valions of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 15 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) on Aug. 11, 2014. US Navy Photo

An F/A-18C Hornet attached to the Valions of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 15 launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) on Aug. 11, 2014. US Navy Photo

U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters flying from the deck of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) have flown 30 air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) terrorists since Aug. 8. but more sorties are geared toward surveillance, officers on Bush said on Wednesday.  Read More