Iran and Israel Escalate, Updates in Syria, and Retaining Military Personnel

What Happens Next in Gaza? Can the US do Better in Africa? What led to the failure of Ukraine's offensive in 2023? How is the US-Japan alliance going to change moving forward? How has Russian behavior in Syria changed over the past six years?

War on the Rocks contributors tackled these questions, among many others, this week. Read below

Articles

Perhaps the most difficult challenge the United States and Japan face is truly integrating their long-term strategies, which have heretofore been inter-related but not inter-dependent.?

In 2018, Kimberly wrote “The Puzzle of Russian Behavior in Deir al-Zour .” Six years later, we invited her back to discuss this complicated relationship and Russia’s involvement in Syria.

Being bold to keep the “best and brightest” junior officers in the Army is essential to helping maintain a well-led fighting force that can successfully protect the nation and its freedom for generations to come.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated before the United States Congress that Israel would keep fighting in the Gaza Strip until it achieved “total victory” against Hamas. What happens next?

The Navy’s approach to acquiring and fielding unmanned systems for deployment at sea should ultimately reinforce and support the maritime domain’s still-dominant weapons system: long-range anti-ship missiles.

U.S. forces in Syria should brace for a period of growing instability in the medium to long term, particularly in the event that a conflict breaks out between Israel and Hizballah in Lebanon.

NATO understands what it takes to fight as an interoperable force, even if it struggles at times to achieve it. But now it needs to start thinking in terms of fungibility as well.

Amidst escalating global tensions and growing challenges in the civilian aviation sector, an aircraft maintenance shortage has emerged nationally, posing a significant threat to Air Force operational readiness.

Your bi-weekly update about America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists.

Podcasts

Susan and Simon discussed how different concepts of history have shaped the war in Ukraine and how students of international affairs should challenge their assumptions and embrace uncertainty.

As Africa is seeing a dramatic rise in violent conflict and elected governments are falling to coups, Chris, Zack, and Melanie sat down to discuss US policy for the region.

Protests have erupted in Venezuela after President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela declared victory in elections the opposition said were corrupt. David Smilde joined the WarCast to tell us more.

Faysal Itani joined the WarCast to tell us more about a rapid escalation in tensions between Israel, Hizballah, Hamas, and their backer, Iran.

On the second episode of our new members-only podcast, Marine Pulse, Lieutenant Colonel Zach Ota joins Walker Mills to discuss the need for a Joint Task Force in the Indo-Pacific and the Marine Corps’ role in a JTF.

In the second part of “Lessons from Ukraine’s Offensive Operations,” Mike and Jack Watling continue discussing the failure of Ukraine’s 2023 offensive.

Mike sits down with Jack to discuss the failure of Ukraine’s offensive in 2023 and more in the first part of “Lessons from Ukraine’s Offensive Operations.”