Long War Journal Archives - FDD's Long War Journal

Despite ceasefire, Iran and its militias continue attacking regional states (April 2–8 updates)

Ahmad Sharawi — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:33:11 +0000

Iran and its allied militias launched numerous drones and missiles against regional countries between April 2 and April 8, continuing attacks after a ceasefire between Iran and the United States was announced yesterday. Across this period, the attacks remained concentrated on the Gulf, Jordan, Iraq, and Iraqi Kurdistan, with repeated mass-interception events in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

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US, Iran agree to 2-week ceasefire in exchange for reopening of Strait of Hormuz

Bill Roggio & Janatan Sayeh — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 16:57:15 +0000

There are conflicting conditions demanded by the US and Iran for lasting peace, and Israeli and Iranian strikes continued after the ceasefire announcement. However, a cessation of hostilities and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping appear to be agreed-upon items. Iranian leaders touted the ceasefire as a victory, while US officials said the objectives of destroying Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities were achieved.

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Generation Jihad | Risky Raid Behind Enemy Lines

Cameron McMillan & Bill Roggio — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:11:26 +0000

Bill Roggio and FDD Senior Analyst Cameron McMillan unravel the complex rescue of two US airmen shot down over Iran, including the strategic coordination and risks involved with the operation, plus the current state of the Iranian ballistic missile program and Tehran’s strategic adaptability amidst the dynamic conditions of this war.

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Gunmen fire at police outside of Israeli consulate in Istanbul

Joe Truzman — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:55:18 +0000

Three attackers opened fire on police officers outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey earlier today. Turkish police killed one shooter and captured two others. The affiliation of the attackers is currently unknown, but the incident comes almost a week after the Islamic State called for attacks on Jews during the Passover holiday.

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Iranian ballistic missile cluster munitions strike dozens of sites in Israeli cities

Seth Frantzman — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:30:21 +0000

Iran’s increasing use of cluster munitions in ballistic missile attacks since late February has intensified damage across Israel, with dozens of impact sites reported in major cities in the first week of April. Four people were killed in Haifa in a missile attack on April 6. Meanwhile, Israel is escalating strikes on Iranian infrastructure targets and boosting production of Arrow interceptors as part of its multi-layered air defense.

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Iran rejects US ceasefire proposal as US-Israeli operations escalate, regime suffers high-profile casualties

Janatan Sayeh — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:27:18 +0000

US and Israeli operations inside Iran escalated over the past week. Actions included strikes on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps missile and air defense sites, eliminations of senior military and intelligence officials, the recovery of a US F-15E crew downed over Iran, and attacks on Iranian infrastructure, ranging from petrochemical facilities to major industrial plants.

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IDF: Palestinian terrorists violate Gaza ceasefire 22 times since start of Iran war

Samuel Ben-Ur & Aaron Goren — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:07:25 +0000

While the US-Israeli war with Iran has taken center stage, Israel’s Gaza front remained active, despite the US-brokered ceasefire that took effect on October 10 of last year. The Israeli military has documented 22 ceasefire violations by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups since the war with Iran began on February 28.

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Analysis: Israeli goals in Lebanon war shift from imminently disarming Hezbollah to reestablishing South Lebanon Security Zone

David Daoud — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:49:54 +0000

The renewed conflict in Lebanon has settled into a static pattern, despite remaining intense. Israel has narrowed its immediate war aims, while Lebanon remains unable to restrain Hezbollah, which remains defiant. This dynamic of impasse has led the international community to effectively tolerate the situation in Lebanon.

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Iran downs US fighter jet, 1 crew member recovered, rescue operation ongoing for second

Joe Truzman & Bill Roggio — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 20:31:31 +0000

A pilot of an F-15E Strike Eagle reportedly shot down over Iran was rescued on April 3, while the second crew member remains missing. The downing of an F-15E is the first American fighter jet to be shot down by Iran since major combat operations began in Iran on February 28.

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Generation Jihad | Timeline after Timeline

Bill Roggio & Janatan Satyeh — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:13:44 +0000

FDD’s Janatan Sayeh is back with Bill Roggio for an update on the Iran war, including: the potential for concrete regime change, last night’s address by President Trump, rumored US-Iran deliberations, the fragile balance of power on the ground, and the possibility of a popular uprising against the wounded Islamic Republic.

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Iran and proxies fire fewer total projectiles, increase accuracy in attacks on region (March 28–April 1 updates)

Ahmad Sharawi — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:36:05 +0000

Between March 28 and April 1, Iran and its allied militias continued launching drones, missiles, and rockets against regional countries—with less overall frequency but more accuracy. The attacks targeted energy infrastructure, airports, military facilities, ports, and residential areas.

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American journalist kidnapped in Baghdad by Iranian proxy

Bridget Toomey — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:14:11 +0000

The Iran-backed terror group Kataib Hezbollah, an Iraqi Shiite militia, kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson in downtown Baghdad on March 31. The US government had previously warned Kittleson of a threat against her and the group’s desire to kill or abduct journalists.

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Iran intensifies recruitment, repression amid reports of thousands of security deaths, Washington weighs ground operations

Janatan Sayeh — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:05:27 +0000

Washington is considering ground operations as joint US-Israeli strikes impact Iran’s military and internal security forces, reportedly causing thousands of casualties. Simultaneously, Tehran has increased security recruitment efforts, deployed foreign proxy militias, and escalated executions and arrests of Iranian citizens while issuing threats over “sharing images or footage with foreign actors.”

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Israel kills Al Manar employee Ali Shuaib, says he was a Hezbollah military operative

David Daoud — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:05:30 +0000

Israel targeted and killed Ali Shuaib, an employee of the Hezbollah TV station Al Manar, and two others who worked for the pro-Hezbollah Al Mayadeen channel. The Israel Defense Forces claimed Shuaib was a Hezbollah Radwan Force operative using his journalistic credentials to monitor Israeli troop movements.

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Home of Kurdistan Region president targeted, American universities threatened as attacks escalate in Iraq

Seth Frantzman — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:51:29 +0000

A drone attack targeted the residence of Kurdistan Region of Iraq President Nechirvan Barzani amid escalating strikes in Iraq on March 28, followed by a drone interception near the home of Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the following day. Iranian-backed militias and Iran have been blamed for attacks across Iraq, including more than 500 drone and missile strikes against the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region since February 28.

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Generation Jihad | The Kharg Island Trap

Ryan Brobst, Cameron McMillan & Bill Roggio — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 16:38:08 +0000

Kharg Island looks like the perfect target — take it, and you choke off Iran’s oil. But it’s not that simple. Bill Roggio is joined by Ryan Brobst and Cameron McMillan to discuss why seizing Kharg could hand Tehran exactly what it wants: a wider war, a vulnerable US position, and a fight on the regime’s terms.

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Yemen’s Houthis enter Iran war with drone and missile attacks on Israel

Bridget Toomey — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 22:08:13 +0000

The Houthis launched missile and drone attacks against Israel, the first direct military action since the beginning of the US and Israeli campaign against Iran that began on February 28. The Iran-backed Yemeni terrorist group threatened to continue and expand attacks until a series of conditions it issued are met.

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Iran and proxies continue attacking energy facilities, residential areas, and Arab capitals (March 24–27 updates)

Ahmad Sharawi — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:01:09 +0000

Between March 24 and March 27, Iran and its allied militias continued launching drones and missiles against Arab countries. The attacks targeted energy infrastructure, airports, military facilities, ports, and residential areas in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan.

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Russia reportedly sending Iran drones for use against the US and Israel

John Hardie & Dmitriy Shapiro — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:06:19 +0000

Reports citing Western officials suggest that Russia has started supplying Iran with complete drones after Russia was previously suspected of only providing components to improve Iranian systems. The unmanned aerial systems are likely modified, Russian-made versions of the same Shahed-136 one-way attack drones that Tehran previously supplied to Moscow.

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US-Israeli strikes continue as talks over Strait of Hormuz stall and Iran intensifies internal crackdown

Janatan Sayeh — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:14:43 +0000

The US and Israel continued airstrikes as negotiations over the passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz hit an impasse and Iran ramped up efforts to repress its populace. The regime has expanded internal security checkpoints into a dispersed network across various cities and increased arrests targeting alleged collaborators and dissenters.

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Israel continues operations against Hamas in Gaza, diplomats push for disarmament as shaky ceasefire continues

Seth Frantzman — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 16:18:00 +0000

While attention has shifted to the conflicts in Iran and Lebanon, Gaza remains under a fragile ceasefire, with ongoing low-level clashes. High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov highlighted progress toward a disarmament framework tied to UN-backed plans. Despite this, Hamas continues to consolidate control in parts of the territory as Israel targets militants and terrorist infrastructure.

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Turkish intelligence chief hosts Hamas leaders in Istanbul

Sinan Ciddi — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:54:21 +0000

Turkish spy chief Ibrahim Kalin’s March 22 meeting with senior Hamas leaders in Istanbul highlights Turkey’s continued high-level engagement with the group, reinforcing Ankara’s role as a mediator in Gaza ceasefire negotiations while omitting any discussion of Hamas’s disarmament. The meeting reflects a broader pattern of Turkish support for the group, evidenced by recent US Treasury sanctions on Turkish charities linked to Hamas.

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Interim Venezuelan president ousts defense chief as Washington makes limited progress in Caracas

Samuel Ben-Ur — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:36:30 +0000

On March 18, Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez removed longtime Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López and installed Gustavo González López, followed by initiating a broad restructuring of the military’s top leadership. These moves unfolded alongside US-supported stabilization efforts and the passage of a February 20 amnesty law that has facilitated the release of dozens of political prisoners. Nevertheless, a UN fact-finding mission reported that the country’s repressive apparatus remains largely unchanged.

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Analysis: Why seizing Iran’s Kharg Island could be a trap of America’s own making

Ryan Brobst & Cameron McMillan — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:54:47 +0000

A US effort to seize Kharg Island, the Islamic Republic’s critical economic hub, would be a high-risk operation that would likely entail significant costs for little gain. Kharg is much more likely to become a liability than an asset, drawing the Trump administration closer to the war of attrition it is trying to avoid.

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Generation Jihad | The Hormuz Shake(down)

Bill Roggio — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:57:55 +0000

Bill Roggio sits down with shipping expert Sal Mercogliano to break down Tehran’s latest act of war: turning the world’s most critical shipping chokepoint into leverage.

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Lebanon declares Iranian ambassador-designate ‘persona non grata’ before Iranian missile explodes over Lebanese airspace

David Daoud — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:03:01 +0000

An Iranian ballistic missile exploded in Lebanese airspace shortly after Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi declared Tehran’s ambassador-designate in the country “persona non grata.” Official silence, coupled with Lebanese reporting that the missile was targeting an American asset in Lebanon, led to speculation that Iran considered Raggi’s move significant and was retaliating for it. However, subsequent reporting and a Lebanese Armed Forces investigation revealed that the missile’s target was outside Lebanon.

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Iran-linked group claims arson attacks in Antwerp and London

Joe Truzman — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 23:08:38 +0000

On March 23, Ashab al Yamin, a group with ties to the Islamic Republic, took responsibility for attacks in Antwerp and in London. The incidents raise the total number of claimed attacks by the Iran-linked group against Jewish and Western sites to seven.

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Analysis: The Islamic State’s targeting of a Chinese mine in Congo proves the group is a resilient threat

Caleb Weiss & Ryan O'Farrell — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:08:46 +0000

The Islamic State’s Central Africa Province (ISCAP), known locally as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), raided and burned down a Chinese-owned mine in eastern Congo earlier this month. The raid, which was far from the jihadist group’s normal area of operation, highlights both ISCAP’s threats to Congo’s mining sector and its resilience after nearly five years of a sustained military operation against it.

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6 Kurdistan Regional Government soldiers killed in Iranian attack on northern Iraq

Seth Frantzman — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 17:10:08 +0000

Six Peshmerga fighters were killed, and more than 20 were wounded in a missile strike north of Erbil on March 24, marking the deadliest attack on the Kurdistan Region since late February. The strike is part of a broader wave of drone and missile attacks by Iran and Iranian-backed militias targeting northern Iraq, US facilities, and Kurdish forces. In addition, rockets were fired toward Syria on March 23, and at least 15 members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces were killed in a likely US airstrike in Iraq’s Anbar province.

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Iran and proxies continue attacking regional airports, energy facilities, military bases, and residential areas (March 20-23 updates)

Ahmad Sharawi — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:15:22 +0000

Between March 20 and March 23, Iran and its allied militias continued launching drones, missiles, and rockets against Arab countries, targeting energy infrastructure, airports, military bases, diplomatic facilities, and residential areas.

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