Red Sea and Gulf of Aden SITREP

Ansarallah’s spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yahya Sariʾi announces new phase of operations against US and UK naval coalition that included a swarm attack of 37 drones at naval vessels; and several anti-ship ballistic missiles at an American merchant vessel.

Democratization of Warfare: Abrams vs. Ghoul

The duel on the Ukrainian battlefield, where vaunted American Abrams M1/AI tanks fell to Russian ‘Ghoul’ FPV drones, indicates that U.S. Army land warfare doctrines are due for re-evaluation. The multi-million-dollar tanks were easily felled by $500 drones. Re-thinks by strategists at the U.S. Army War College are overdue.

‘Coalition of the Sanctioned’: Iran–Russia–China ‘Tripartite Alliance’ (Part 1)

Essay evaluates the maturing ‘Tripartite Alliance’—Russia, China, Iran—at the two-year anniversary of the Ukraine War, which fused the Alliance. Anger at U.S. and NATO transformed hitherto wary allies into partners. Part 1, background; Part 2, cooperation—with emphasis on Iran-Russia military and intelligence exchanges. How will the Iran-Russia military relationship impact on U.S. and Israel?

Tehran’s Responses to ‘Maximum Pressure Campaign’ and ‘Bomb Iran’ Threats

Nobody likes a bully; and USA is a loud-mouthed bully. Iranians resent 125+ years of foreign interference in their affairs. Tehran has responded to USA’s ‘maximum pressure’ and ‘bomb Iran’ threats by enhancing Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capacities. IRGC can ‘kill’ US aircraft carriers outside Persian Gulf. Iran is prepared for an ‘inevitable war.’ Washington underestimates Iranian tenacity and military technologies

Fortifications of the Pre-Modern Islamic World: Shadiyakh, Nishapur (Khurasan, Iran)

Nishapur has the dubious distinction of being ruined frequently by earthquakes and invaders. It was home to Omar Khayyam and Farid al-Din Attar, and devastated in AH 618/AD 1221 by the Mongol army commanded by Tolui, Chingiz Khan’s son. An overview of the fortifications of Nishapur; and excavation at Shadiyakh palace, HQ of Abdallah b. Tahir, Khurasan’s Abbasid governor

Fortifications of the Pre-Modern Islamic World: Introduction

Introduction to a series on fortifications of the Islamic east, and the changing character of war. In this first post, a brief look at the layout of Fort Juwayn, Khurasan (a province split between Iran and Afghanistan), as it stood in 1884

War of the Flea in the Red Sea

Robert Taber’s classic study offers insights into Ansarallah’s (Houthi’s) Red Sea campaign. Five characteristics of ‘protracted war’ apply to Yemen. ‘Popular support’ in is with Ansarallah. This is demonstrated every Friday by the millions of Yemenis that assemble after prayers to support Palestine and oppose U.S./UK airstrikes. Even Ansarallah’s civil war enemies have drifted to their camp.

Ansarallah and Royal Navy: Lesson from the Falklands War

Argentina’s sinking of HMS Sheffield in 1982 offers a lesson on how Ansarallah can defeat British aggression against the Yemeni people. Sheffield’s demise sent shockwaves through Britain. But Britain had a path to victory in the Falklands that it does not have in the Red Sea. If Ansarallah sinks a Royal Navy ship, which they can, it will likely end the British mission. It almost certainly will end Rishi Sunak’s premiership.

Russia-Iran Military Exchanges: Part 3

Iran is supplying Russia with 400 Fatih-110 and Zulfiqar missiles. Missile deliveries began in January. This is not ‘news’ because the deal has been in the offing since late 2022; and no Fatih-110 or Zulfiqar missiles have been used in Ukraine. But it has been unofficially confirmed by Iranian and Russian sources

Lebanon-Syria-Hezbollah SITREP

Iran is supplying its Khordad-15 air defense system to the Syrian and Lebanese armies. Since October 2023, Iranian cargo aircraft have been using Russia airbases in Syria. A report claims that Hezbollah sends its older weapons to Russia for the Ukraine War; while advanced Iranian weaponry is safely delivered to Hezbollah through Russian airbases in Syria.