Why Idlib is a Pending Nightmare
Bottom Line Up Front: According to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, there are perhaps as many as 10,000 al-Qaeda affiliated fighters, and their […] More
ISIS
The Next ‘Field of Jihad’
As the anniversary of 9/11approaches, it brings a time of deep reflection, not only on what was lost on that day in 2001, but also […] More
IS’ Strategy in Iraq and Syria
From ‘Remain and Expand’ to ‘Adapt and Evolve’ Small pockets of Islamic State fighters have regrouped throughout parts of Iraq and Syria. Jihadists are becoming […] More
The Global Threat Posed by Al-Qaeda
A United Nations report delivered to the Security Council last month offered a stark reminder that al Qaeda remains a serious threat around the world. […] More
ISIS Looking to Rebound in the Philippines—And Spread
Indonesia was hit by a series of deadly bombings this past May. The attacks targeted churches and were carried out by families with young children, […] More
Afghanistan Quagmire Leaves U.S. With No Good Options
Update: June 18, 2018 – Despite an incredibly rare ceasefire between the Afghan Government and the Taliban in observance of Eid al-Fitr, two deadly suicide […] More
Threat Report 2018: ISIS In the Spotlight
Over the weekend, ISIS claimed responsibility for two deadly attacks: in Paris, France, a Chechnyan-born man stabbed five people and released a video pledging allegiance to […] More
The 2011 U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq: Relevance for Syria Today
Following the near destruction of ISIS in Iraq and in the U.S. “zone” in northeastern Syria, and then a call recently by President Donald Trump […] More
Syria’s Reality: A View from Amman
With increasingly confusing statements and actions from the White House and the Pentagon on U.S. policy toward Syria, The Cipher Brief presented a live briefing […] More
Persistent ISIS Sinai Threat Drives Israel-Egypt Cooperation
Bottom Line: Relations between Egypt and Israel have often been referred to as a “cold peace,” but the emergence of mutual security threats over the […] More
Officials: ISIS Followers Plot WMD Attacks on US
U.S. officials are working to protect the continental U.S. from possible chemical attack by ISIS followers in the Mideast, who are plotting to bring chlorine […] More
Threat Assessment #Fail: Al-Qaida Quietly Growing, By Design
The annual accounting to Congress of global threats to the United States made it sound like al-Qaida’s separate branches were managing to thrive independently of […] More
ISIS Festers and Grows in Lawless Libya
Bottom Line: ISIS maintains a strong presence in Libya and remains a potent regional threat, despite domestic and international efforts to oust the group from […] More
Is Team Trump Tilting at Windmills in Syria?
Does the Trump administration have a viable strategy for Syria — and the tools and capability to carry it out? Secretary of State Rex Tillerson […] More
What is Congress Good For? Not Declaring War
The framers of the U.S. Constitution decided 230 years ago to divide the nation’s war powers between the president and the Congress, making the president […] More
‘Persistent, Expanding and Worrisome’: ISIS Rebounds in Afghanistan
Bottom Line: With the original ISIS core nearly expelled from its so-called caliphate in Syria and Iraq, other ISIS branches are growing in influence and […] More
Self Driving Cars ‘Game Changing’ for FBI…& ISIS
Autonomous vehicles such as those being tested by Google or Tesla will be one of the most important and disruptive technologies for the future of […] More
How Egypt’s Policies Are Driving Support for ISIS in the Sinai
The Friday prayer massacre of more than 300 worshipers at a Sinai was a departure for the local Islamic State affiliate in scale, but not […] More