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Institute for the Study of War

@thestudyofwar.bsky.social

ISW is a policy research organization focused on U.S. national security. Email: press@understandingwar.org. For more: https://linktr.ee/understandingwar

96,551 Followers  |  420 Following  |  6,552 Posts  |  Joined: 03.10.2023  |  1.6064

Latest posts by thestudyofwar.bsky.social on Bluesky

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NEW: The United States and Europe are finalizing security and economic guarantees with Ukraine that aim to deter future Russian aggression and rebuild Ukraine’s post-war economy.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 26, 2026: isw.pub/UkrWar012626

Other Key Takeaways: β¬‡οΈπŸ§΅(1/6)

27.01.2026 01:44 β€” πŸ‘ 148    πŸ” 38    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 6
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NEW: The Iraqi Shia Coordination Framework selected State of Law Coalition head and former Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki as prime minister designate on January 24, even though at least four framework members opposed Maliki’s nomination. (1/8)

Read more: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

27.01.2026 02:30 β€” πŸ‘ 56    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
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Iran Update, January 26, 2026 The Iraqi Shia Coordination Framework selected former Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki as prime minister designate.

Read CTP-ISW's latest Iran Update here: isw.pub/IranUpdate01... (8/8)

27.01.2026 02:31 β€” πŸ‘ 24    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Maliki has previously also proven his willingness to work with Iranian-backed Iraqi actors and militias to preserve his personal power, especially after the United States withdrew from Iraq in 2011. (7/8)

27.01.2026 02:31 β€” πŸ‘ 25    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Maliki pursued sectarian and authoritarian policies while in office that led to the rise of ISIS in Iraq. (6/8)

27.01.2026 02:31 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

An Iraqi political source told AFP on January 26 that the United States remembers Maliki’s previous terms β€œin a negative light,” which underscores Maliki’s historic role in driving instability in Iraq. (5/8)

27.01.2026 02:31 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The spokesperson of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Coalition stated on January 25 that the coalition supports Maliki’s nomination. Maliki may have offered Sudani spoils in the new government to persuade Sudani to forgo the premiership. (4/8)

27.01.2026 02:31 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Iraqi Sunni political parties are also divided over Maliki’s nomination. Some of the Sunni parties that oppose Maliki could join an effort to block the presidential election. (3/8)

27.01.2026 02:31 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

These dissenting framework members and their parties could attempt to block the Iraqi presidential election in order to try to delay or prevent Maliki from becoming prime minister. (2/8)

27.01.2026 02:30 β€” πŸ‘ 14    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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NEW: The Iraqi Shia Coordination Framework selected State of Law Coalition head and former Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki as prime minister designate on January 24, even though at least four framework members opposed Maliki’s nomination. (1/8)

Read more: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

27.01.2026 02:30 β€” πŸ‘ 56    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 2
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6/ Russian forces recently advanced in northern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts, in the Dobropillya tactical area, and near Slovyansk.

Read more: isw.pub/UkrWar012626

27.01.2026 01:44 β€” πŸ‘ 54    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

5/ Russia’s domestic populace is increasingly bearing the economic costs of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

27.01.2026 01:44 β€” πŸ‘ 72    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

4/ Russian forces are increasingly using Starlink satellite systems to extend the range of BM-35 strike drones to conduct mid-range strikes against the Ukrainian rear.

27.01.2026 01:44 β€” πŸ‘ 48    πŸ” 9    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 4

3/ The Kremlin is reviving its use of nuclear arms control rhetoric to push the United States to make concessions on Ukraine in return for normalizing US-Russian relations.

27.01.2026 01:44 β€” πŸ‘ 44    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

2/ The Kremlin continues to exploit the lack of clarity about the outcome of the August 2025 US-Russian Alaska summit to falsely portray Ukraine β€” not Russia β€” as the unwilling negotiating partner.

27.01.2026 01:44 β€” πŸ‘ 48    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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NEW: The United States and Europe are finalizing security and economic guarantees with Ukraine that aim to deter future Russian aggression and rebuild Ukraine’s post-war economy.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 26, 2026: isw.pub/UkrWar012626

Other Key Takeaways: β¬‡οΈπŸ§΅(1/6)

27.01.2026 01:44 β€” πŸ‘ 148    πŸ” 38    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 6
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NEW: Kremlin officials continue to reiterate Russia's commitment to its original war aims and reject Western security guarantees for Ukraine.

Read the full Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 25, 2026: isw.pub/UkrWar012526

More Key Takeaways ⬇️ (1/4)

25.01.2026 22:01 β€” πŸ‘ 180    πŸ” 59    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 7
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NEW: Some Iranian officials have continued to leak damning information about the regime’s brutal crackdown to Western media, which indicates that some regime personnel may oppose the regime’s crackdown. (1/3)

Read the Iran Update, January 25, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

25.01.2026 23:06 β€” πŸ‘ 237    πŸ” 66    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 3
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3/ The extension of the Syrian government-Syrian Democratic Forces ceasefire is enabling the government to deliver humanitarian aid to SDF-controlled areas in northern Syria. The Syrian army established two humanitarian corridors in Kobani and Hasakah City.

25.01.2026 23:07 β€” πŸ‘ 68    πŸ” 10    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

2/ The Iranian regime hasn't restored international internet access, & there continues to be a debate w/in the regime about it, primarily btwn factions that think restoring internet could cause protest resumption versus those that think the economic toll of the shutdown could cause internal unrest.

25.01.2026 23:06 β€” πŸ‘ 84    πŸ” 12    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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NEW: Some Iranian officials have continued to leak damning information about the regime’s brutal crackdown to Western media, which indicates that some regime personnel may oppose the regime’s crackdown. (1/3)

Read the Iran Update, January 25, 2026: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

25.01.2026 23:06 β€” πŸ‘ 237    πŸ” 66    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 3
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4/ Ukrainian forces recently advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian forces recently advanced near Borova, in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area, and near Novopavlivka.

Read the full update here: isw.pub/UkrWar012526

25.01.2026 22:01 β€” πŸ‘ 54    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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3/ RU continues to intensify recruitment efforts for the RU Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) that may also staff the conventional RU ground forces.

UA Defense Minister Dmitry Mykhailo Fedorov appointed Serhiy β€œFlash” Beskrestnov as a Ministry of Defense (MoD) advisor on defense technology on Jan. 25.

25.01.2026 22:01 β€” πŸ‘ 54    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
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2/ Kremlin Spokesman Peskov made a statement suggesting that the Kremlin is using its participation in ongoing negotiations with the United States to stave off a significant increase in US pressure against Russia that could impede its war effort.

25.01.2026 22:01 β€” πŸ‘ 34    πŸ” 6    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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NEW: Kremlin officials continue to reiterate Russia's commitment to its original war aims and reject Western security guarantees for Ukraine.

Read the full Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, January 25, 2026: isw.pub/UkrWar012526

More Key Takeaways ⬇️ (1/4)

25.01.2026 22:01 β€” πŸ‘ 180    πŸ” 59    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 7
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Read CTP-ISW's latest update about developments in Syria and Iran here: isw.pub/IranUpdate01...

25.01.2026 01:16 β€” πŸ‘ 28    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

7/ Syrian government forces have surrounded SDF fighters in Kobani since January 19, likely as the first part of a multi-stage operation to reduce SDF forces there.

25.01.2026 01:16 β€” πŸ‘ 32    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

6/ The Syrian army announced on January 24 that it will open humanitarian corridors in β€œthe coming hours,” but did not specify if this includes a corridor in Kobani.

25.01.2026 01:16 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

5/ Kurdish and international organizations are pushing the Syrian government to establish a humanitarian corridor in Kobani, Aleppo Province, as Syrian forces surround the city.

25.01.2026 01:16 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

4/ Both the SDF and Syrian government forces continued to prepare for a possible lapse in the ceasefire on January 24 before the parties announced the extension.

25.01.2026 01:16 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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