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☆ A bloodthirsty ISIS branch is 'on the upswing' after the US left Afghanistan in a lurch, a former top commander says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

AdvertisementIn the years since the US and its NATO allies left Afghanistan, a particularly violent branch of the Islamic State terror group has grown stronger. During the first few years of its existence, ISIS-K attacks were mainly confined to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The first year under the Taliban's rule saw a sharp uptick in terror attacks inside Afghanistan. But that trend has changed in recent months; attacks inside the country declined while attacks beyond its borders have increased. Thus, the conditions inside Afghanistan have awarded the terror group space to develop a greater capacity to stage external attacks.

Persons: —, Joseph Votel, Hamid, Taylor Crul, Michael Kugelman, Kugelman, MARCUS YAM, Votel, that's, Doug Ellis, Qassem, STRINGER, Michael Kurilla, John Kirby, Biden, Kirby Organizations: Service, NATO, 82nd Airborne Division, U.S . Air Force, US Air Force, REUTERS ISIS, Islamic, ISIS, Department of Defense, Hamid, AP, South Asia Institute, Wilson, Kabul International Airport, ANGELES, US Central Command, Security Forces, Staff, Getty, White, National Security, Department, Defense Locations: Afghanistan, Moscow, Kabul, Handout, Khorasan Provence, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Washington, Darzab district, Jowzjan province, Mar, Iran, Central Asia, Iranian, Kerman, Europe, Russia, Islamic State, Crocus, American, Achin, Nangarhar Province

☆ Iran-backed Houthis attacked a Chinese ship with missiles after promising to leave them alone
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Houthis reportedly said they would avoid attacking Chinese ships off the coast of Yemen. AdvertisementThe Houthis said they would refrain from attacking Chinese ships off the coast of Yemen, but this past weekend, the Iran-backed rebels did exactly what they said they wouldn't. "The Houthis attacked the M/V Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels," CENTCOM said. The M/V Huang Pu is Chinese owned and operated, but it was sailing under the flag of Panama when it was attacked. "It was determined these UAVs presented an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region," CENTCOM said.

Persons: —, Huang Pu, CENTCOM, Huang, Michael Kurilla, Kurilla, Fawaz Salman Organizations: Service, US Central Command, AP, United Nations, Bloomberg, House Armed Services, REUTERS, Ambrey Locations: Yemen, Iran, Beijing, China, Russia, Chinese, Gaza, Sanaa, Gulf of Aden, Tehran, Ukraine, PRC, Aden, Red, Panama

☆ Opinion | Inside America’s Shadow War With Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

You could hold a friendly regatta in the Taiwan Straits compared to where I just visited. I spent two days last week hopscotching in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter among seven U.S. military bases in western Jordan and eastern Syria with America’s senior Middle East Centcom commander, Gen. Michael Kurilla. What you have, instead, is the other Middle East war that began shortly after the tragic Israel-Hamas war that broke out on Oct. 7. They have learned to arm, build, adapt and deploy some of the most sophisticated precision weaponry in the world. That weaponry, provided by Iran, can hit a three-foot-wide target 500 miles away.

Persons: It’s, Michael Kurilla Organizations: Chinese Navy, Air Force, U.S . Navy, America’s, East, ISIS, U.S Locations: Taiwan, China, Jordan, Syria, Israel, Iran, Iraq, U.S, Gulf of Aden, Yemen

☆ Missions like the nighttime sea raid that saw 2 Navy SEALs go missing are 'dangerous' and 'complex,' former Special Forces soldier says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Two Navy SEALs went missing at sea during a raid to interdict smuggled Iranian weapons last week. Western forces have carried out numerous visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) missions in recent years. These operations can be "dangerous" and "complex," a former US Special Forces soldier said. A former US Special Forces soldier said these missions are particularly "dangerous" and "complex" for a number of reasons, including the difficulty of successfully mounting a moving target and the potential to encounter hostiles once on board. AdvertisementUS forces seized this dhow during a nighttime mission on Jan. 11, 2024, and maintained custody of it the following day.

Persons: —, hostiles, Lino Miani, USS Lewis B, CENTCOM, Michael Kurilla, Melissa Parrish, there's, Miani, Jason Dunham, Kyle McNally CENTCOM, Kurilla Organizations: Navy, US Special Forces, Service, Operations, Green Beret, Insider, USS, Puller, Central Command, US, Command Public, US Navy, US Army Green Berets, Combat, Foundation, US Navy SEAL, Royal Jordanian Naval Base, US Army, Troops, Pentagon, 1st, Special Operations, US Marine Corps, UN Locations: Somalia, Iran, Yemen, Aqaba, Camp Pendleton , California, Iranian

☆ Another US Navy carrier strike group is heading to waters near Israel, where it'll join a large amount of American firepower already there
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Pentagon ordered a second US Navy carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean. The strike group includes the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, and guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely and USS Mason. AdvertisementAdvertisementWashington was reportedly considering sending the Eisenhower's carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean earlier this week, but no formal decision had been made at that time. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) transits the Atlantic Ocean during Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7's fly-off. White House and Pentagon officials have said that the movement of carrier strike groups is meant to prevent this from happening.

Persons: Dwight D, Eisenhower, —, Lloyd Austin, Mason, Austin, Gerald R, Ford, Thomas Hudner, Ramage, USS Carney, Roosevelt, Ryan, Michael Kurilla Organizations: Pentagon, US Navy, Service, Eisenhower Carrier Strike, US European Command, Washington, Ford Carrier Strike, Carrier Air Wing, US State Department, US Central Command, NATO, Royal Marines, United Nations Locations: Israel, States, Europe, Asia, Normandy, Iran, White, Britain, Gaza, UN

☆ Iranian forces dangerously flashed a laser at a US Marine Corps attack helicopter
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Iranian naval ships repeatedly shined a laser at a US Marine Corps helicopter on Wednesday. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementIranian naval forces repeatedly flashed a laser at a US Marine Corps attack helicopter flying above Middle Eastern waters, the US Navy said on Thursday, as tensions between the two countries remain high across the region. This unsafe, unprofessional, and irresponsible behavior by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy risks US and partner nation lives and needs to cease immediately," Cmdr. "US naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows while promoting regional maritime security."

Persons: —, NAVCENT, It's, Cmdr, Rick Chernitzer, Trump, Michael Kurilla, Washington's, John Kirby, there's, Kirby Organizations: US Marine Corps, US Navy, Service, US Naval Forces Central Command, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Iran's Guard Corps, Pentagon, US Central Command, Bataan, Ready, Guard Corps, National Security Locations: Iran, Arabian, Bataan, Iraq, Syria, Tehran

☆ The US is quietly warning its Middle East partners about the cost of stocking up on Chinese-made weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese arms sales in the Middle East have increased by 80% over the past decade, a result of Beijing's expanding relationships there and its willingness to deliver arms faster and with fewer stipulations than Washington. FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty ImagesMiddle Eastern countries, led by the Arab Gulf states, have for decades been major buyers of US-made weapons. Chinese arms sales to the region are "substantial and expected to continue to increase," said Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow at Chatham House. "But it's just one factor among many, including varying threat perceptions of Iran among the Arab Gulf states as well as varying levels of trust between the Arab Gulf governments themselves." Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history.

Persons: Michael Kurilla, Kurilla, Loong, KARIM SAHIB, Colin Kahl, Biden, Kahl, We're, FAYEZ NURELDINE, Ahmed Aboudouh, Aboudouh, James Hodgman, Russia's, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Emily Hawthorne, RANE, that's, Hawthorne, Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, Xi, ANDY WONG, Kahl's, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, US Central Command, Senate Armed Services Committee, Dubai Airshow, Getty, Chatham House, Pentagon, Getty Images, United Arab Emirates, Patriot, Al Udeid, Base, US Air Force, Tech, Air Defense, Turkey, NATO, East, Khalifa, UAE, US, Abu Dhabi Crown, Gulf Cooperation Council Locations: China, Washington, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, AFP, British, Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, East, North Africa, Qatar, Russia, Europe, Gulf, UAE, Yemen, Ankara, Turkey, Prince, Xinhua, Khalifa, Abu, Arab Gulf, Iran

☆ Video captures a Russian Su-35 fighter jet harassing and breaking a US Reaper drone by popping flares above it
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Russian fighter jet flew "dangerously close" to a US military drone over Syria, the Air Force said. The Su-35 harassed the MQ-9 Reaper drone by releasing flares in its path, damaging the propeller. It's the latest incident of aggressive Russian aircraft maneuvers over the Middle East. More recently, the Air Force said in mid-July that a Russian aircraft engaged a US MC-12 surveillance plane "in an unsafe and unprofessional manner." The recent engagement is also not the first time that Russian aircraft harassment resulted in damage to a Reaper drone's propeller.

Persons: Alexus Grynkewich, Assad, Sabrina Singh, Michael Kurilla Organizations: Air Force, Service, US Air, US, Islamic, ISIS, US Air Forces Central Command, Russian, US Air Force, Pentagon, US Central Command Locations: Russian, Syria, Wall, Silicon, Islamic State, Washington, Moscow, Russia

☆ Video shows Russian fighter jets bullying US Reaper drones with their afterburners and flares
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian fighter jets were captured on video harassing US military drones above Syria. The US Air Force said the MQ-9 Reaper drones were conducting a mission against ISIS Wednesday. US officials have warned that Russian aircraft are increasingly carrying out aggressive actions. An unclassified video published by the Air Force shows some moments of the engagement. "These events represent another example of unprofessional and unsafe actions by Russian air forces operating in Syria, which threaten the safety of both US and Russian forces," Grynkewich said.

Persons: —, Alexus Grynkewich, Grynkewich, Michael Kurilla, Russian Su Organizations: US Air Force, ISIS Wednesday, Service, Russian, Islamic State, US Air Forces Central Command, Air Force, ISIS, Central Command, Raptors, Moscow, Islamic Locations: Syria, Russian, Islamic State, Washington

☆ US sends stealth F-22 Raptors to deter 'unsafe' Russian pilots stirring up trouble in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US military has deployed F-22 stealth fighters to positions in the Middle East. US Central Command indicated the move is to deter aggressive actions by Russian aircraft. Officials have noted several instances in recent months where Russian jets made "unsafe" maneuvers. In recent months, US officials have called attention to several instances in which Russian aircraft appear to have executed aggressive maneuvers around American assets and interests across the Middle East. While the jets send a message, an AFCENT spokesperson told Insider that the "primary purpose" of the fighter jets is to contribute to the ongoing defeat-ISIS mission.

Persons: —, CENTCOM, Alexus Grynkewich, Chris Drzazgowsk, Michael Kurilla Organizations: Command, Russian, Service, Raptors, Central, Air Forces Central, ISIS, . Air Force, REUTERS, Russian Forces, Soviets, Islamic, Air Force, US Locations: East, Europe, North Africa, Central, South Asia, Syria, China

☆ A key air defense system wasn't working right when a drone killed an American in Syria, pushing the US to retaliate with force
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The main air defense system at a coalition airbase was "not fully operational" when the attack unfolded, The New York Times reported on Friday. One US official told the Times that the Avenger defense system could have been suffering from a maintenance problem. The drone, which the US intelligence community suspects is of Iranian origin, killed a US contractor and wounded five American service members and an additional contractor. The three injured service members and the contractor were transported to a coalition medical facility in Iraq, while the other two injured service members were treated on site. Austin said his thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the contractor who was killed and also with the wounded service members.

☆ A top US general warns ISIS will be able to strike Western interests from Afghanistan within 6 months
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

ISIS could strike Western interests from Afghanistan within months, a top US general says. Gen. Michael Kurilla warned the terror group's Afghanistan affiliate could stage attacks abroad. Its "ultimate goal" is to strike the US homeland, Kurilla told lawmakers, which would be difficult. The terror group continued to carry out attacks across Afghanistan in 2022 — targeting everything from schools to mosques, and killing scores of people. In the latter two countries, US and partner forces have carried out nearly 100 operations against the terror group since the start of 2023, according to CENTCOM fact sheets.

☆ A senior ISIS leader is dead, but the raid went sideways when an explosion injured several US troops and a dog
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US troops and the Syrian Democratic Forces carried out a joint helicopter raid in Syria on Thursday. The target, a senior Islamic State leader named Hamza al-Homsi, was killed during the operation. Although the target, Hamza al-Homsi, was killed, the operation went sideways when an explosion wounded the four Americans and their working dog. Meanwhile, the US military and its partner forces continue to hunt down ISIS fighters in Iraq and Syria. Local Syrian forces killed the Islamic State's leader, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, during an October raid.

☆ Western forces are raiding gunrunners at sea and throwing wrenches into Iran's plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

CENTCOM said this month that it supported "partner naval forces" during a January raid in the Gulf of Oman. U.S. naval forces seized 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles from a fishing vessel transiting along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen. UK naval forces also seized surface-to-air missiles and cruise-missile rocket engines that came from Iran. U.S. naval forces seized 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles from a fishing vessel transiting along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen. It remains to be seen whether the increase in raids will actually impact Iran's regional influence over the long-term.

☆ US Navy ships caught a fishing boat smuggling over 2,000 AK-47 rifles from Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US Navy forces recently found a fishing boat transporting over 2,000 rifles from Iran to Yemen. A team from the patrol coastal ship USS Chinook discovered and boarded the ship with support from fellow Cyclone-class patrol ship USS Monsoon and the guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans. Navy forces found that the ship was carrying 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles. U.S. naval forces seized 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles from a fishing vessel transiting along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen. U.S. naval forces seized 2,116 AK-47 assault rifles from a fishing vessel transiting along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen.

☆ US Navy finds 'massive amount' of explosive material able to fuel over a dozen ballistic missiles on a fishing boat sailing from Iran
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Navy intercepted a fishing boat in the Gulf of Oman traveling from Iran to Yemen last week. During a search, the Navy found lethal aid and a "massive amount" of explosive material. This material is able to fuel over a dozen medium-range ballistic missiles, a Navy official said. The Navy said it sank the ship last weekend and transferred the crew to Yemen's Coast Guard. Iran is the main supporter of the Houthis, who have fought a yearslong civil war against Yemen's internationally recognized government.

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