Long War Journal Archives - FDD's Long War Journal

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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Syria holds elections in Kurdish-majority areas, finds Assad-era chemical weapons

Seth Frantzman — Sat, 30 May 2026 19:27:21 +0000

Syria moved forward with another round of local elections on May 24 as the government seeks to strengthen its legitimacy and extend authority following years of conflict. The vote came as Damascus said it was working with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to turn over remnants of the previous Assad regime’s chemical weapons program.

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Israel reportedly targets Imam Hossein Division missile commander in Beirut strike

David Daoud — Fri, 29 May 2026 23:44:34 +0000

On May 28, Israel conducted its first strike in weeks targeting Beirut. The Israelis have yet to confirm it, but reporting indicates that the intended target was Ali al Hussaini, a commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Forces’ Imam Hossein Division. This division, whose origins were in the Syrian Civil War, has been reinforcing Hezbollah throughout the conflict with Israel that began in October 2023.

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IDF kills new Hamas military leader, reports 10 ceasefire violations May 21–May 28

Samuel Ben-Ur — Thu, 28 May 2026 18:12:47 +0000

Less than two weeks after Hamas named Mohammed Odeh as its new military commander, Israel eliminated him. The IDF also targeted a number of other high-profile Hamas members as the terrorist group continues refusing to disarm.

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Shabaab spokesman congratulates JNIM, denounces Western powers in Eid message

Caleb Weiss — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:37:15 +0000

During his message for Eid al Adha, Ali Mohamad Rage, Shabaab’s top spokesman, congratulated the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), Al Qaeda’s branch in West Africa, for its recent victories in Mali. Rage also praised Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and denounced American and Turkish activities in Somalia.

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Iran conducts new attacks on Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq

Seth Frantzman — Wed, 27 May 2026 14:47:15 +0000

The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) said Iranian drones and a missile struck one of its facilities near Erbil on May 25, wounding nine Peshmerga, while other camps were reportedly also targeted in recent weeks. Kurdish Iranian opposition groups, operating from Iraq’s Kurdistan Region for decades, formed a coalition to coordinate activities in February. The attacks come as Iraq’s new government seeks to curb armed groups and address regional security concerns.

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Generation Jihad | POV: FPV (or: “The Anarchist Cookbook of war”)

The LWJ Editors — Tue, 26 May 2026 18:53:25 +0000

Hezbollah's missiles may be depleted, but cheap FPV drones are changing the battlefield — slipping past defenses, targeting Israeli troops, and exposing a dangerous new vulnerability. Bill Roggio and David Daoud unpack Hezbollah’s drone evolution, the psychological warfare behind the footage, and why Israel may be drifting back toward the failed security zone dynamics of the past.

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Amid security threats, Syria attempts to cement stability, international ties

Seth Frantzman — Fri, 22 May 2026 12:01:08 +0000

A car bombing in central Damascus on May 19 killed one soldier and wounded civilians, as Syrian forces conducted raids against suspected militants in Deir Ez Zor. Damascus is also advancing reconciliation efforts with Kurdish groups and pursuing international diplomatic engagement.

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Generation Jihad | Dune: the Brotherhood jihad

Bill Roggio & Edmund Fitton-Brown — Thu, 21 May 2026 14:47:16 +0000

Before Hamas. Before Al Qaeda. Before the Islamic State. There was… the Muslim Brotherhood. And for nearly a century, it has played the long game by building influence across the Middle East and even deep inside the West. Bill Roggio is joined Edmund Fitton-Brown to discuss.

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Hamas replaces military wing leader, IDF reports 19 Gaza ceasefire violations May 6–20

Aaron Goren — Wed, 20 May 2026 17:35:12 +0000

After the elimination of Al Qassam Brigades leader Izz al Din al Haddad on May 15, Hamas has reportedly turned to longtime senior member Mohammed Odeh to take the reins of the group’s military wing. As Hamas reportedly rearms and reconstitutes its strength, the IDF reports that its members and other Palestinian terrorists have continued to violate the ceasefire in Gaza.

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Saudi Arabia and UAE say drone attacks were launched from Iraq

Seth Frantzman — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:35:55 +0000

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said that recent drone attacks targeting their territory originated from Iraq, increasing pressure on Baghdad to address the activities of Iranian-backed militias operating inside the country. The incidents come amid continued regional tensions involving Iran and have intensified scrutiny of Iraq’s newly formed government.

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UAE sanctions Hezbollah-linked financial network, reflecting US designations

David Daoud & Ahmad Sharawi — Mon, 18 May 2026 21:10:20 +0000

The UAE’s designation of 16 Hezbollah-linked individuals and five affiliated organizations mirrors prior US Treasury sanctions targeting the broader web of financial, accounting, and institutional entities connected to Hezbollah’s economic ecosystem.

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Analysis: Netanyahu pushes for US military aid drawdown

Bradley Bowman & Justin Leopold-Cohen — Mon, 18 May 2026 16:48:13 +0000

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to promote a plan to move his country away from American foreign military financing, but that comes at a time when Israel’s military requirements are increasing, and it is already spending an extraordinary percentage of gross domestic product on defense.

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US, Nigerian forces kill senior Islamic State leader

Bill Roggio — Sat, 16 May 2026 13:56:50 +0000

The US military, "in coordination with the Armed Forces of Nigeria," killed Abu Bilal al Minuki and several other senior Islamic State leaders in an operation in northeastern Nigeria. President Trump and US Africa Command described Minuki as the Islamic State’s second in command and director of global operations.

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Hamas commander Izz al Din al Haddad targeted in Israeli airstrike

Joe Truzman — Fri, 15 May 2026 22:58:09 +0000

The Israeli military attacked an apartment in Gaza City, targeting Izz al Din al Haddad, Hamas’s leader in Gaza. Al Haddad is one of the last remaining senior members of Hamas who were responsible for the October 7 attack.

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Iraq forms new government with only 14 of 23 ministers

Bridget Toomey — Fri, 15 May 2026 15:26:27 +0000

Iraq’s parliament approved the new government six months after parliamentary elections in November 2025. Ali al Zaidi is now the prime minister, but key ministries remain unfilled amid disagreements between Tehran and Washington and their partners over the government’s formation.

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Israel trains new civilian security squads for 67 Gaza border communities

Seth Frantzman — Thu, 14 May 2026 13:19:03 +0000

Israel is expanding civilian security preparedness in communities near the Gaza border through a new training program led by Magen 48, a non-profit civilian-led initiative, in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces. The program, created after the October 7 Hamas attack, trains local volunteer armed response teams in tactics, medical support, and community defense.

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Iraqi security forces and politicians react to reports of ‘secret’ Israeli base

Seth Frantzman — Tue, 12 May 2026 17:53:14 +0000

A report alleging that Israel operated a secret military base in Iraq’s Najaf desert has sparked controversy and conflicting statements among Iraqi politicians and security forces. The report emerged amid sensitive political negotiations in Baghdad and broader tensions involving Iran-backed militias, Israel, the United States, and Iran.

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3 October 7 perpetrators identified with facial recognition software

Joe Truzman — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:55:16 +0000

Open-source information and commercially available facial recognition tools have identified three suspects— Amjad Qadoum, Yasir Samir, and Mustafa Shaheen—who were involved in the October 7 Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel. Facial recognition tools and social media exploitation can yield verifiable identity data from the extensive footage recorded by the terrorists’ own devices.

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Generation Jihad | Iran’s nukes: Degraded but not dead

Bill Roggio — Fri, 08 May 2026 18:25:34 +0000

Iran’s nuclear program is in ruins, but the threat is far from dead. Deputy Director of FDD's Non-Proliferation Program Andrea Stricker and Bill Roggio dive into the desperate gamble Tehran is making at the negotiating table with the US — and the terrifying chemical contingency they might be holding in reserve.

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Israel assassinates commander of Hezbollah Radwan Force

David Daoud — Fri, 08 May 2026 17:50:02 +0000

On May 6, Israel conducted its first strike in the greater Beirut metropolitan area since the onset of a ceasefire on April 16. The strike targeted an apartment building in Dahiyeh, and one of the alleged fatalities was Ahmad Ghaleb Ballout, whom Israel claimed was the newest leader of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force commando unit.

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Protests in Syria’s Kurdish region highlight demand for rights

Seth Frantzman — Fri, 08 May 2026 15:04:40 +0000

Protests erupted in Hasaka in eastern Syria after authorities replaced Kurdish and Arabic on a government billboard with English and Arabic, angering local residents. The incident reflects broader tensions as Damascus seeks to reassert control over eastern Syria following agreements with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

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Analysis: Russian security assistance is creating problems on the Korean Peninsula

Logan Rolleigh & Ryan Brobst — Thu, 07 May 2026 17:21:22 +0000

North Korea has launched dozens of missiles since the start of 2026. The regime is displaying increasingly lethal long-range fires capabilities that have been enabled, in no small part, by Russian security assistance.

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