Michael Kurilla

Iraq in the Crossfire

Iraq was in crisis before Israel and Iran started trading blows. Now, it’s next door to a conflict.

Amid Syria troop reduction, will Trump repeat Middle East withdrawal mistakes?

Cameron McMillan and Bradley Bowman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies argue in this op ed that getting out of Syria too quickly could leave the US vulnerable.

United States to Withdraw 1,000 Troops from Syria in Coming Months

Pentagon Confirms Troop Consolidation: The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) confirmed on April 18 that the United States will consolidate and reduce its forces in Syria, maintaining...

US strike in Iraq eliminates top Islamic State leader

A March 13 airstrike in Iraq’s Anbar province by US Central Command (CENTCOM) eliminated Abdallah Makki Muslih al Rifai, a senior leader of the Islamic State (IS) who may have served as the...

After SDF-Damascus deal, a spotlight on US forces in Syria

On March 10, Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), signed an agreement with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al Sharaa. The deal outlines a plan to integrate the SDF and other...

‘The Immense Responsibility Placed Upon Me’: IDF Installs First New Chief of Staff Since Hamas Massacre of October 2023

IDF Shake-Up in Wake of October 7 Failures: Eyal Zamir, a former deputy chief of staff of the IDF and director-general of Israel’s Defense Ministry, became Israel’s 24th top...

US kills Al Qaeda’s military commander for Syria

Video of CENTCOM's strike in northwestern Syria that killed Hurras al Din's overall military commander Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay. Hurras al Din is Al Qaeda's branch in Syria which claims to...

Syria Is At A Crossroads. What’s At Stake Now?

Can the new government stabilize the country? Additionally, can Washington make sure it doesn’t miss an opportunity to leverage a decade of work with the Kurds and other partners?

Turkey moves to isolate the Kurds in Syria, and prepares a way for new attacks

The main group in Ankara's cross-hairs is the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, which was formed in 2015 with US backing.

What’s next for Syria? Assad, Jihadist terrorist groups, and chemical weapons

Biden and Netanyahu Speak as Israel Prepares Iran Response

Anticipating an Israeli retaliation against Iran for its October 1 missile barrage against Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu...

Israel faces attacks on multiple fronts on the anniversary of the October 7 attack

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Iran threatens Israeli civil and nuclear infrastructure on October 7 anniversary

On the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack, the Islamic Republic has pledged to target Israeli cities and critical infrastructure while US and Israeli officials consider their options in...

The Houthis’ leadership structure

On October 4, the US military said it attacked Iran-backed Houthi military facilities in Yemen. “U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes on 15 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed...

US and Iraqi forces kill Islamic State leaders

The US military and Iraqi Security Forces killed four Islamic State (IS) leaders during an August 29 raid in western Iraq that resulted in the wounding of seven American soldiers. One of the IS leaders...

Hezbollah Drone Strikes Israeli Apartment Building in Nahariya

The Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah launched more than 20 rockets and two drones at northern Israel on September 9. No injuries were reported, but one of the drones struck...

Israel SitRep: September 9, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Hezbollah Drone Lands Direct Hit on Nahariya Apartment Building; Airstrikes in Syria Kill 16 | IDF Makes Arrests in Overnight West Bank Counterterror Operation; Allenby Bridge Reopened...

Israel SitRep: August 9, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Israeli Defense Minister Speaks with U.S. Defense Secretary Overnight | CENTCOM Commander Kurilla Visits Israel for Second Time This Week, Discusses Preparations for Addressing Threats...

Biden stands down, with Middle East in crisis

Now that Biden is not going to run, the enemies of America may wonder if they can take advantage of the chaos.

Israel’s Defense Minister meets with US leaders and sees progress in Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the evening of July 16, communicating his views on Israel’s progress in Gaza. Gallant “emphasized that IDF operations...