Recent Posts

Russia’s Gray Zone Warfare Campaign In Europe – Analysis

According to the head of MI5, Russia is on a mission to ‘generate sustained mayhem on British and European streets.’ The statement refers to a string of high-profile sabotage and arson events that have occurred in Europe since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, ranging from the destruction of undersea …

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Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 25, 2025

Note: The data cut-off for this product was 12:00 pm ET on May 25. ISW will cover subsequent reports in the May 26 Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment. Russian President Vladimir Putin is leveraging long-range strikes against Ukrainian cities, aggressive rhetorical campaigns, and excessive pessimism in the West about the battlefield …

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Iran Update, May 23, 2025

Iran may try to secure an interim nuclear deal before negotiating a comprehensive nuclear agreement to delay or prevent a US or Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities and the imposition of snapback sanctions by the E3 (the United Kingdom, France, and Germany), as CTP-ISW previously assessed.[1] The Wall Street …

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Espionage, Elections, Ethnic Tension: What’s Behind the Latest Hungary-Ukraine Spat?

Ukraine’s arrest of suspected Hungarian intelligence operatives in Transcarpathia has revived fears about Budapest’s intentions towards the region. But experts think the incident says more about Orban’s electoral vulnerability than his territorial ambitions. Ukraine’s relationship with the US has improved over the last month with President Donald Trump expressing growing …

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Russian Military Intensifies Combat Operations On Multiple Fronts Ahead Of Likely Summer Offensive – Analysis

Battlefield Assessment Last week the front lines near Toretsk continued to witness high-tempo combat operations. Russian forces also pressed toward the Siversk-Kramatorsk axis, the long-embattled town of Chasiv Yar, the Orikhiv sector in southern Ukraine, and the area around Pokrovsk—a critical node in Ukraine’s eastern defensive architecture. Ukrainian units continued …

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Syria’s Sharaa Administration Grapples with Foreign Fighters Amidst ISIS Resurgence Concerns – The Syrian Observer

The issue of foreign fighters in Syria has resurfaced prominently following a recent meeting in Riyadh between U.S. President Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, brokered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. During the meeting, Trump reportedly presented President Sharaa with five key conditions, notably demanding the repatriation …

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Surprise Visit: Turkish Intelligence Chief Meets President Sharaa in Damascus Amid Shifting Alliances – The Syrian Observer

Turkey’s message to Damascus is clear: it supports Syrian reunification, so long as Kurdish military autonomy is eliminated, al-Hal writes. In an unannounced and diplomatically charged visit, Turkish Intelligence Chief İbrahim Kalın arrived in Damascus on Tuesday, marking a significant development in Ankara’s evolving approach to Syria. The visit—confirmed by …

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