Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: Newly-announced figures reveal extent of pan-European economic slowdown; clashes commence after Iraqi government and Kurdish troops begin encircling Mosul ahead of offensive to recapture city from Islamic State; Boko Haram releases video purportedly showing abducted Chibok schoolgirls; and more.
Tag: Syria
The weekly briefing, 10 August 2016: Colombian government and FARC agree on UN-brokered deal, large crowds attend rally in support of Turkish president, scores killed during protests in Ethiopian capital
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: Colombian government and FARC agree on UN-brokered deal to disarm guerrillas; large crowds attend rally in support of Turkish president following recent coup attempt; scores killed and many arrested during protests in Ethiopian capital; and more.
The weekly briefing, 2 August 2016: United Kingdom begins to feel negative economic consequences of Brexit decision, al-Nusra Front changes name and splits from al-Qaeda, Thailand’s ruling junta cracking down on dissent ahead of constitutional referendum
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: United Kingdom begins to feel negative economic consequences of decision by small majority of British voters to leave European Union; al-Nusra Front in Syria changes name and splits from al-Qaeda; Thailand’s ruling junta cracking down on dissent ahead of scheduled constitutional referendum that could strengthen its authority; and more.
The weekly briefing, 26 July 2016: Zimbabwe war veterans withdraw support for Robert Mugabe, Brazilian federal police arrest 10 people suspected of planning to attack Olympic Games, four violent attacks occur across southern Germany in last week
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association withdraws support for Robert Mugabe; Federal police in Brazil arrest 10 people suspected of planning to carry out terrorist attack during Olympic Games; four violent attacks occur across southern Germany in last week, with two linked to Islamic State; and more.
The weekly briefing, 12 July 2016: UN tribunal rules on South China Sea dispute between Philippines and China; long-awaited Iraq Inquiry report leads to fresh calls for Tony Blair to face legal action over his role in Iraq war; opposition fighters launch attack on government-held districts in Aleppo after Syrian government forces cut supply route into city
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea rules on dispute between Philippines and China over latter’s claims to South China Sea; long-awaited Iraq Inquiry report finally published and leads to fresh calls for former British prime minster Tony Blair to face legal action over his role in Iraq war; opposition fighters launch attack on government-held districts in Aleppo, Syria, after government forces cut their last supply route into city; and more.
Press release: New critical assessment of UK and coalition’s campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
Open Briefing has today published an in-depth assessment of the UK and wider US-led coalition's campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The war with Islamic State: An assessment of the United Kingdom’s Operation Shader and the wider coalition campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria
Overall, the US-led coalition has had some considerable successes in containing and rolling back Islamic State in Iraq and Syria; however, much more should have been achieved given the combined military might and other resources of the 66 members of the global coalition to counter Islamic State. Those gains that have been made have come at the expense of civilian casualties. Furthermore, there are no signs that the terrorist threat to the United Kingdom from Islamic State is reducing despite nearly two years of UK airstrikes and other efforts to target the group.
Remote-control warfare briefing #15, May 2016: Shadowy Russian private military company fighting alongside Spetsnaz in Syria, US officials explore scenarios for Islamic State ‘dirty bomb’ attacks, studies find mass surveillance having negative impact on democracy
Monthly briefing from the Open Briefing intelligence unit on developments in remote-control warfare. This month: shadowy Russian private military company fighting alongside Spetsnaz special forces in Syria; US officials explore scenarios for Islamic State ‘dirty bomb’ attacks using drones; studies find mass surveillance having negative impact on democracy and informed debate; and more.
