The Long War Journal (Site-Wide)

---

• IRGC promotes more drone strikes against the Islamic State
• Tensions mount as Iraqi militias boost numbers in contested areas while Kurds hold referendum
• Pakistani foreign minister: ‘We don’t have the assets to match’ Haqqanis and LeT
• Islamic State, Taliban claim Kabul attack during Secretary of Defense’s visit
• Islamic State radio tries to quell controversy over takfir

IRGC promotes more drone strikes against the Islamic State Posted: 27 Sep 2017 01:13 PM PDT This week, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Corps (IRGC) publicized more drone strikes in eastern Syria, allegedly against Islamic State positions by the Iraqi border.

Tensions mount as Iraqi militias boost numbers in contested areas while Kurds hold referendum Posted: 27 Sep 2017 01:07 PM PDT As tensions mount between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, several Iranian-backed group have deployed more troops to contested areas near Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu. As both sides remain steadfast in their claims to the oil rich province, tensions continue to mount and the risk of military escalation rises.

Pakistani foreign minister: ‘We don’t have the assets to match’ Haqqanis and LeT Posted: 27 Sep 2017 07:06 AM PDT Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif accused the United States of creating jihadist groups such as the Haqqani Network and Lashkar-e-Taiba, and supporting them to this day.

Islamic State, Taliban claim Kabul attack during Secretary of Defense’s visit Posted: 27 Sep 2017 02:12 AM PDT Both the Taliban and the Islamic State's Khorasan "province" claimed responsibility for an assault on the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan this morning. The attack coincided with a visit by Secretary of Defense James Mattis to the country, although it appears he was not at the airport at the time.

Islamic State radio tries to quell controversy over takfir Posted: 26 Sep 2017 12:18 PM PDT The Islamic State's Al Bayan radio station has released several religious lectures dealing with an internal controversy over takfir, the practice of excommunicating other Muslims and denouncing "polytheists." The so-called caliphate tried to quell the controversy by repealing a problematic memo earlier this month.