The Number of U.S. Troops in Iraq Is Approaching 6,000 (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 25, 2016 Five hundred more troops will be sent to help with the massive Mosul campaign. They will not engage in fighting at the front but will help call in airstrikes on Islamic State targets and provide tactical advice and training. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

American Recruits

Mike Luckovich / Truthdig Sep 20, 2016 Dig deeper

Obama’s Approach to Ending Terrorism: Destroying Islamic State in Mosul and Then Rebuilding City

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 20, 2016 President Obama met Monday with Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi and discussed the coming campaign to take the city of Mosul away from Islamic State, entirely destroying the terrorist organization’s territorial power in Iraq. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

U.S. Seeks to Prevent Islamic State From Looting, Selling or Destroying Antiquities

Clara Romeo / Truthdig Sep 17, 2016 A meeting was convened recently in Washington, D.C., to discuss how to secure and preserve cultural artifacts in the Middle East. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Syria Truce Holds, Offering Hopes for Delivery of Humanitarian Aid

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 14, 2016 The truce that began Monday night in Syria held for its first 24 hours in the areas designated by the U.S. and Russia for a cease-fire. There was little sign of political compromise, however, which is a bad sign for the future. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

U.S. and Russia Plan Joint Air Command to Hit Terrorists in Syria

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 11, 2016 Some officers in the U.S. military do not like the idea of coordinating with Russia, feeling that it has taken advantage of past cease-fires to advance its interests and those of Bashar Assad. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Nearly 500 More U.S. Troops Sent to Iraq for Mosul Attack in Advance of Election Day

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 10, 2016 If Islamic State loses Mosul before Americans go to the polls Nov. 8, it will undermine a key talking point of the Republican right: that Obama is weak on terrorism. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

With Defeat Looming, Islamic State Haunts Syria With Six Bombings (Video)

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Sep 6, 2016 The group is still acting like a military organization, but it has always mixed military with terrorist tactics On Monday, it slid toward the terrorist end of the spectrum, setting off six coordinated bombings that left more than four dozen people dead The group is still acting like a military organization, but it has always mixed military with terrorist tactics. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

U.S. Declares Turkish-Backed Campaign Against Our Allies in Syria ‘Unacceptable’

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Aug 31, 2016 Recent developments in Syria are reminiscent of the cartoon strip "Peanuts" scenario in which Lucy pulls the football away from Charlie Brown at the last minute and he ends up on his back In this case, Washington is playing Lucy and the Kurds are playing Charlie Brown Recent developments in Syria are reminiscent of the cartoon strip "Peanuts" scenario in which Lucy pulls the football away from Charlie Brown at the last minute and he ends up on his back. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

America’s Syria Snafu: Pentagon’s Militias Are Fighting Turkey and CIA’s Militias

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Aug 31, 2016 US Syrian policy is in disarray despite recent victories against Islamic State U. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Islamic State Sends Families Out of Mosul as Kurdish and Shiite Forces Advance

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Aug 30, 2016 Iraqi military forces have taken the strategic town of al-Qayarah, near the major city of Mosul, from Islamic State. Mosul is the last major city in the hands of the apocalyptic, brutal cult that has lost almost all the territory it took in 2014. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Top Six Reasons Turkey Is Finally Attacking Islamic State in the Syrian City of Jarabulus

By Juan Cole / Informed Comment Aug 24, 2016 Turkish forces and coalition allies launch airstrikes against the Islamic State stronghold near the border with Turkey (Pictured, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim) Turkish forces and coalition allies launch airstrikes against the Islamic State stronghold near the border with Turkey). Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )