The Long War Journal (Site-Wide)

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• Analysis: Gen. Nicholson says US strategy in Afghanistan ‘is working,’ despite the facts
• Authorities investigate knife attack west of Paris
• Islamic State leader downplays territorial losses in new audio message
• US military targets Shabaab north of Kismayo

Analysis: Gen. Nicholson says US strategy in Afghanistan ‘is working,’ despite the facts Posted: 23 Aug 2018 09:10 AM PDT At a Pentagon press conference, General Nicholson again gave a Pollyannish assessment of the state of Afghanistan. He claimed the peace process is working and the Taliban's offensive is failing, and took credit for a Taliban victory over the Islamic State.

Authorities investigate knife attack west of Paris Posted: 23 Aug 2018 04:01 AM PDT An assailant stabbed a small number of people in Trappes, west of Paris, earlier today. The Islamic State quickly claimed via its Amaq News Agency that the attacker was one of its "fighters." Authorities are investigating the incident, and the possibility it was a family dispute turned violent. Some reports say the two people killed were the "attacker's mother and sister."

Islamic State leader downplays territorial losses in new audio message Posted: 22 Aug 2018 06:31 PM PDT The public seldom hears from the reclusive Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who last released a speech nearly a year ago. But in his latest message, Baghdadi downplays the loss of his territorial caliphate while claiming the US has entered a new stage of "weakness."

US military targets Shabaab north of Kismayo Posted: 22 Aug 2018 04:45 PM PDT The strike is the second against Shabaab, which is al Qaeda's branch in East Africa, in Somalia that has been reported by U.S. Africa Command this month.