On Sunday, armed drones attacked the residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in a failed assassination attempt. There were no claims of responsibility, but Iraqi security officials identified Iran as the source of the drones while some...
CEP released updated resources on three powerful Iraqi Shiite militias. One of the Iranian-backed Shiite militias is reportedly responsible for the disappearance of three Americans from an apartment in Baghdad on January 15.
At the dawn of the US-led campaign against ISIS in September 2014, President Obama announced the formation of a “broad coalition” whose mission was to “degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIS. Since then, the international coalition has carried out more...
As the Iraqi army suffers setbacks in its battle against ISIS, Shiite militias, anti-American and anti-Sunni, have become a key element in Iraq's military strategy. CEP profiles three of the most powerful Shiite militias, the Badr Organization, Asaib...
The Americans will leave one day, Quds Force commander General Qasem Soleimani once told Iraqi leaders, but Iran will remain Iraq’s neighbor. That lesson has only been reinforced by the lead role Iran has since taken in the fight against ISIS. Iran...
As ISIS makes sweeping gains in Iraq, it is worrying to note that for the most part, the group is being fought by sectarian extremists. Shiite militias – often acting as unofficial affiliates of Iran’s military – are operating outside of the Iraqi...
“Nothing is safe from the cultural cleansing under way in the country: it targets human lives, minorities, and is marked by the systematic destruction of humanity’s ancient heritage.” – Irina Bukova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific...
The belief that the Iraq war was a monumental blunder is now widely held. In the public mind, the decision to dethrone Saddam Hussein has also become a ready explanation for nearly every ill to befall the world since. The latest baleful effect...
CEP has reviewed the details of dozens of cases involving Western foreign fighters and jihadist brides who in some way were radicalized and became involved in the conflict in Iraq and Syria. Given the similarity of the end result, you would suspect...
As many as 20,730 foreigners have joined armed militant groups in Iraq and Syria, making the two countries the most popular destinations for Muslim foreigner fighters in modern history. While garnering tremendous media attention of late, the...
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On April 3, 2017, the day Vladimir Putin was due to visit the city, a suicide bombing was carried out in the St. Petersburg metro, killing 15 people and injuring 64. An al-Qaeda affiliate, Imam Shamil Battalion, claimed responsibility.
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