Long War Journal Archives - FDD's Long War Journal

CENTCOM strikes Iran as Tehran condemns US sanctions waiver revocation

Janatan Sayeh — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 01:03:58 +0000

The Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran faced its most significant test yet on July 7 after Iran attacked commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington responded with a new round of military strikes and sharply narrowed its oil sanctions waiver, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement.

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Hamas announces intent to dissolve Gaza government as disarmament questions remain

Seth Frantzman — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:33:49 +0000

Hamas said that it is prepared to dissolve its governing institutions in Gaza and transfer authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a key component of the US- and UN-backed ceasefire framework. As negotiations continue, Israeli officials argue that Hamas surrendering administrative control without relinquishing weapons would leave Hamas as the dominant force behind the scenes.

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Generation Jihad | Hezbollah’s moment of truth

The LWJ Editors — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:35:07 +0000

A new 14-point trilateral framework toward ending hostilities in Lebanon puts Hezbollah, Iran’s strongest terror proxy, at a crossroads. Disarm and let Lebanon reclaim its southern border—or keep threatening Israel and risk blowing up the fragile US-Iran peace deal. FDD Senior Fellow David Daoud joins Bill Roggio to break down what's really at stake in these negotiations.

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Iranian ballistic missile operations: 2024–2026

Behnam Ben Taleblu — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:31:31 +0000

Over the past two years, the Islamic Republic has engaged in at least 15 distinct ballistic missile operations from its territory against foreign targets. Despite a pause in these attacks in 2023, the 2024–2026 period resumed a trend of increasing Iranian missile operations in the region between 2017–2022.

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Syria appoints new parliament as Israel tensions continue

Seth Frantzman — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:04:49 +0000

Syria has completed the formation of its new People's Assembly, appointing the final 70 members of parliament as part of the country's political transition following the fall of the Assad regime. Meanwhile, security tensions persist along the Israeli border, where recent clashes and Israeli military operations underscore the complex security environment.

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Iraq launches corruption crackdown, sets deadline for militia weapons handover

Seth Frantzman — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:02:24 +0000

Iraq's new government launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign that resulted in dozens of arrests of politicians and senior officials across the country's political spectrum. The raids, carried out by elite security forces, are part of Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi's broader effort to strengthen state institutions and restore public confidence in government.

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Hamas suppresses protests, IDF reports 17 strikes, ceasefire violations June 10–29

Samuel Ben-Ur — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:41:58 +0000

Anti-Hamas organizers in Gaza had hoped June 26 would bring a wave of large demonstrations against the terror group. However, Hamas worked to lower turnout with arrests, threats, and armed street deployments.

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US kills Islamic State senior leader in Syria, Damascus rejects Lebanon intervention

Seth Frantzman — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 20:12:19 +0000

A recent precision strike against a senior Islamic State leader underscored Washington's continued counterterrorism mission in Syria. Separately, US President Donald Trump urged Syria's new government to consider intervening against Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon, but Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa stated his country will not send forces, preferring diplomacy over military action.

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Generation Jihad | Is the MOU DOA?

The LWJ Editors — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:20:34 +0000

One week after President Trump signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran, the 60-day negotiation window is already under pressure—and the concessions are piling up. So, is this two-page MOU actually worth the paper it’s written on? FDD Iran Program Senior Director and Senior Fellow Behnam Ben Taleblu joins Bill Roggio to break it all down.

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As Kurdistan Region seeks drone defenses, Rubio warns Iraq about Iran proxies

Seth Frantzman — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:38:56 +0000

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is seeking to acquire air-defense systems following months of missile and drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure and Iranian opposition groups across northern Iraq. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iranian-backed proxies continue to threaten regional stability by launching attacks from Iraqi territory.

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Analysis: Khamenei warily accepts US deal as Tehran eyes rebuilding Hezbollah

Janatan Sayeh — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 21:15:56 +0000

Days after Tehran and Washington reached a memorandum of understanding over ending the recent conflict, Iran's new supreme leader is distancing himself from the agreement as hardliners clash over its implications. Meanwhile, reports that Iran is preparing to increase support for Hezbollah and statements from senior regime figures suggest that Tehran views any sanctions relief as an opportunity to rebuild proxy capabilities.

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Gaza peace plan sees slow progress after Hamas meets in Cairo

Seth Frantzman — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 20:27:54 +0000

Efforts to advance the US-backed peace plan for Gaza have continued amid difficult negotiations over Hamas’s disarmament and the future security structure of the enclave. Talks in Cairo involving Hamas, Egyptian officials, and representatives of the Board of Peace have focused on implementing key provisions related to weapons restrictions and the deployment of an International Stabilization Force.

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Analysis: Ukraine unveils reforms to address manpower shortage

Maksym Panchokha & John Hardie — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 23:26:43 +0000

Ukraine hopes a set of sweeping reforms will help redress its chronic shortage of manpower by providing clear terms of service and better pay. However, its promises to begin discharging long-serving troops and reform controversial mobilization procedures raise questions about how it will accomplish these goals simultaneously.

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Pirate attacks on ships in the Gulf of Aden are on the rise

Bridget Toomey — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:53:33 +0000

Since late April, armed attackers in small skiffs, using tactics consistent with pirates, have been attacking ships off Yemen’s southern coast and other waters around the Horn of Africa at a rate not seen since 2011, when piracy in the region was at its peak.

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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi meets US envoy amid militia pressure

Seth Frantzman — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 17:59:22 +0000

US Envoy to Iraq and Syria Tom Barrack’s recent visit to Iraq on June 15 highlighted Washington’s efforts to support stability, security cooperation, and political reform in the country amid continuing regional tensions. Discussions focused on strengthening ties between Baghdad and Washington, disarming Iranian-backed militias, and advancing energy deals.

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Generation Jihad | Fog of the deal

The LWJ Editors — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:28:22 +0000

President Trump said that a two-page memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran that will end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. But will this deal bring about a lasting peace in the region, or has peace just become another five-letter word? FDD Senior Fellow David Daoud and Bill Roggio speculate as to what will become of the Middle East and America’s influence in the region as this very thin MOU moves forward.

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IDF confirms killing Hezbollah commander responsible for creating Iran-backed militias in Iraq

Bill Roggio — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:51:04 +0000

On June 14, the Israeli military confirmed that it killed Ali Mousa Daqduq, a wanted and dangerous Hezbollah military commander. Daqduq was a key architect of the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and a top Hezbollah commander involved in leading attacks inside Israel. He was previously reported killed in the fall of 2024, but his death was never confirmed.

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Venezuela reshuffles foreign relationships as oil production grows

Samuel Ben-Ur — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:09:45 +0000

As Nicolás Maduro’s foreign minister and vice president, interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez previously helped build Caracas’s ties to Russia, China, and other US adversaries. Despite Washington's desire for Venezuela to now orient toward the West, Rodríguez is also courting middle powers that can give Caracas room to maneuver, an effort aided by Venezuela’s recovering oil economy.

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Iraq’s prime minister prepares US visit amid Iran threats and militia focus

Seth Frantzman — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:40:58 +0000

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi is set to visit Washington, DC, as his government seeks investment, security cooperation, and support for efforts to strengthen state authority. A central focus of his agenda is bringing weapons held by Iranian-backed militias under government control, a process Baghdad hopes to advance before the planned end of the US anti-Islamic State mission in September 2026.

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IDF targets Hamas middle managers, reports 15 strikes and ceasefire violations May 29–June 10

Samuel Ben-Ur — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:36:41 +0000

Following the high-profile eliminations of two Hamas military wing leaders, the Israeli military turned to targeting lower-level officials in the group who are leading its rearmament push, as well as members of other Gaza terrorist organizations.

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Houthis attack Israel and announce ban on Israeli vessels in the Red Sea

Bridget Toomey — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:16:22 +0000

The Houthis in Yemen launched two missiles at Israel and declared a blockade of Israeli vessels in the Red Sea on Monday. The Iran-backed terror group conducted this attack during waves of Iran’s own missile attacks against Israel.

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Analysis: Turkish interior minister states dream of governing Jerusalem, provoking Israel

Sinan Ciddi — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:20:49 +0000

Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci recently sparked controversy by expressing his desire to one day govern Jerusalem and suggesting that territories once ruled by the Ottoman Empire could again fall under Turkish sovereignty. Ciftci's remarks are the latest indication that senior Turkish officials continue to view Jerusalem not merely as a symbol of the Palestinian cause, but as part of a broader historical mission that seeks to expand Ankara's influence across the Middle East.

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Russia reopening military schools to expand officer training pipeline

John Hardie — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:22:34 +0000

Moscow announced that it will re-establish the Chelyabinsk Higher Tank Command School, one of more than a dozen new schools Russia is standing up to expand its officer-training pipeline for a larger military that has been heavily attrited by the war in Ukraine.

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Houthis emphasize solidarity and coordination with Iran-led Axis of Resistance

Bridget Toomey — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:48:02 +0000

The Houthis in Yemen reiterated support for their partners in the Iran-led Axis of Resistance, singling out Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. While leaving the door open to further involvement in the ongoing regional conflict, the group stopped short of saying it would join the fighting.

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Generation Jihad | Gaza: Smoldering battlefield?

The LWJ Editors — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:57:08 +0000

Despite multiple attempts by Israel to quell the fighting in Gaza and decapitate Hamas's leadership, the group continues a guerilla-style resistance. The IDF now fights on three active fronts: Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza. But it’s perhaps the forgotten war in Gaza that could resume major hostilities if left unchecked. Bill Roggio speaks with FDD Research Analyst Samuel Ben-Ur about next steps in Gaza.

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Several Iranian-backed militias in Iraq say they accept state control of weapons

Seth Frantzman — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:27:59 +0000

Iraq’s new government is attempting to bring weapons held by Iranian-backed militias under state control, a move that could reshape the role of armed groups linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Several militias have announced plans to place their arms under government authority and disengage from the PMF, while others remain opposed or have issued mixed signals.

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Generation Jihad | The next caliphate battleground

The LWJ Editors — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:11:05 +0000

While attention remains fixed elsewhere, jihadist groups are expanding across Africa. Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss revisit the growing threats in Mali, Nigeria, and Somalia—and why the continent remains one of the most consequential battlegrounds in the war against Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

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US Syria Envoy Barrack tapped for Syria and Iraq role

Seth Frantzman — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:53:15 +0000

Syria is seeking to deepen ties with the US and expand regional diplomacy as the countries pursue discussions on reconstruction, sanctions relief, and economic recovery. Simultaneously, Syria faces ongoing regional shifts, including emerging trade routes, increased use of Syrian airspace, and broader tensions affecting reconstruction and political integration.

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Generation Jihad | Everybody wants a McWar

The LWJ Editors — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:45:14 +0000

Iran's military has been shattered. The Strait of Hormuz remains contested. Three months in, Bill Roggio and FDD's Jon Schanzer examine why quick victories are rare, patience is scarce, and this war is entering its most consequential phase yet.

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Muqtada al Sadr announces integration of his militia into the Iraqi state

Bridget Toomey — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:32:39 +0000

Iraqi nationalist cleric Muqtada al Sadr announced that his militia, Saraya al Salam, will integrate into state security institutions. This development comes as Iraq’s new political leadership is navigating the issue of disarming Iran-backed militias.

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