Tag: Syria

The Russian military’s ‘permanent’ commitment in Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean

DR ROD THORNTON, Defence Studies Department, King’s College London The Russian military appears to be in Syria very much for the long haul. Indeed, the adjective ‘permanent’ [postoyannyi] has been applied by senior Russian political and military figures to describe both the presence of the Russian forces on land in Syria and the Russian Navy’s… Read More The Russian military’s ‘permanent’ commitment in Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean

benkienzle1 Comment

Resolving Conflict in Syria and other 21st Century Wars

ANGUS MCKEE is a diplomat in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and a 2017 graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies.  This post is based on his MA dissertation.  The views expressed in this paper are the author’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those of the UK Government.  Since Syria’s 2011 uprising spiralled… Read More Resolving Conflict in Syria and other 21st Century Wars

benkienzleLeave a comment

Syria’s ceasefire and the challenges of war termination

DR CHRIS TUCK The current ceasefire in Syria is under significant pressure and claims of local violations continue to grow. It has, at least, succeeded in reducing the scale of the fighting, which is welcome. The war has, since 2011, led to the deaths of over 300,000 people and displaced internally, or made refugees of,… Read More Syria’s ceasefire and the challenges of war termination

defenceresearch1 Comment

Why Islamic State is wrong: Sykes-Picot is not responsible for controversial borders in the Middle East – but the British military is (Part 2)

This is Part Two of a two part series on the topic by Dr. Rod Thornton. Dr Rod Thornton Throughout Ottoman times and from probably much earlier, it was the agricultural produce of the Mosul vilayet that fed the people of the less fertile vilayets of Baghdad and Basra. Finished-goods trade went the other way.… Read More Why Islamic State is wrong: Sykes-Picot is not responsible for controversial borders in the Middle East – but the British military is (Part 2)

defenceresearchLeave a comment

Why Islamic State is wrong: Sykes-Picot is not responsible for controversial borders in the Middle East – but the British military is (Part 1)

This is Part One of a two part series on Sykes-Picot and the controversial borders of the Middle East. Dr Rod Thornton The Sykes-Picot Agreement, reached during the First World War by Britain and France, has recently been given renewed prominence. This has come about with the claim by Islamic State (IS) that this accord… Read More Why Islamic State is wrong: Sykes-Picot is not responsible for controversial borders in the Middle East – but the British military is (Part 1)

defenceresearchLeave a comment

Syria: Bombing, Peace, and Then What?

BY DR CHRIS TUCK Stabilisation is out of fashion: burned by our experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan there seems precious little appetite for engagement any time soon in complex nation-building tasks. Instead, the new ‘concept du jour is ‘Building Stability Overseas,’ a term that encompasses stabilisation, but also a whole range of other more discrete… Read More Syria: Bombing, Peace, and Then What?

defenceresearchLeave a comment