Going Global: The Islamic State’s Worldwide Reach
This infographic, by ACLED Research Analyst Melissa Pavlik, offers an examination of IS’s behavior within and outside its core areas of operation.
Protests in Idleb Demonstrate Continued Civilian Calls to End Violence in Syria
Protests in Idleb demonstrate continued civilian calls to end violence in Syria (January 1, 2017 – September 15, 2018). Infographic by Syria Research Manager Stephanie Anderson.
Where Has Political Violence Been Occurring in Syria since June 2018?
With all eyes on Idleb, political violence in areas held by Turkish-backed factions in Aleppo increases. This infographic by ACLED Research Manager Stephanie Anderson.
Regime Escalates Arrests and Forced Conscription in Syria
This infographic, by ACLED Research Analyst Melissa Pavlik and Syria Research Manager Stephanie Anderson, features the escalation of regime arrests and forced conscription in Syria.
August 2018 Syria Conflict Update: QSD Progress, Shifting Regime Fronts, and the Final Rebel Enclave
During August 2018 (see map below), Syrian Democratic Forces (QSD) and the Global Coalition Against Daesh continued to battle Islamic State (IS) fighters in the northeast, gaining control over the Iraqi border area and surrounding IS in its remaining territory in Deir-ez-Zor. QSD representatives also attempted to kick-start negotiations with the regime over Kurdish autonomy…
The World’s Most Comprehensive Dataset on the Syrian Conflict
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) is pleased to announce the release of the most comprehensive dataset on the Syrian conflict to date. The data are based on a collaborative effort by the main providers of information on the conflict in Syria: The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), Syrian Observatory for…
Special Focus on Coalition Forces in the Middle East: The Global Coalition Against Daesh in Iraq and Syria
The Coalition in Iraq and Syria was set up in September 2014. As the Islamic State (IS) made rapid territorial gains in Syria and Iraq, the United States (US), joined by nine other countries, announced the formation of the Global Coalition Against Daesh.[1] Its goal was to cripple and ultimately defeat IS. Since 2014, Coalition…
Special Focus on Coalition Forces in the Middle East
In today’s world, external actors are more often intervening in conflicts globally; more domestic armed conflicts have involved external states’ direct intervention in recent years than in any year since the end of World War II. This is especially the case in the Middle East, in which this internationalization is how foreign military power is…
Assassinations in North West Syria
Syria’s North West[1] rebel stronghold has recently witnessed a wave of targeted assassinations against rebel factions and, specifically, against Hayat Tahrir al Sham[2] (HTS) members and leadership. While ACLED data show that assassinations in this area took place at lower levels across 2017, the recent wave of assassinations shows higher frequency and lethality[3] than earlier…
Regional Overview – Middle East 17 July 2018
A heavy artillery exchange occurred last week between Hamas and Israeli military forces along the Gaza border, leading to a ceasefire brokered by Egypt. In Iraq, anti-regime protests in Basrah and Thi-Qar governorates escalated in scale and violence, spreading to other areas of the country including the capital Baghdad. In Yemen, UAE-backed and Saudi-led soldiers…