Abqaiq drone strike: Escalation and questions
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN ***This post was updated to include new information and will be updated at the bottom as new reports come in*** Drone attacks caused large fires at […]
Anatomy of reports of an airstrike
An alleged airstrike on Albukamal (البوكمال) on September 9. How it unfolded in media provides lessons for media coverage and the role of social media. It also shows how information […]
September 9: Airstrikes at Albukamal?
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Just after midnight, in the first hours of Monday morning, loud explosions were heard in an around the Syrian town of Albukamal near the Iraqi border. […]
Mattis was speaking about Iraq, but it informed his views of the Syria withdrawal
Mattis on CBS Face the Nation and discussed the decision to withdraw from Iraq which was made by the previous US administration. “Had I known the former vice president was […]
Syria update: US Gen. Joe Dunford speaks at Council on Foreign Relations, Sept 2019
General Joseph discusses US military and defense strategy in conflict areas around the world at the Council on Foreign Relations. He discussed challenges in eastern Syria. In comes in the context […]
History of Albukamal from ISIS to “the hub of Iran’s land bridge”
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN A version of this article appeared at The Jerusalem Post Iran is constructing a new military compound and weapon storehouses, according to a report at Fox News […]
The US Afghanistan Catch 22
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN A version of this appeared at The Jerusalem Post The US is seeking to withdraw from Afghanistan, something that has bedeviled three US administrations over the last […]
From Gibraltar onward: Mapping the Adrian Darya 1’s trip and news
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Around 8 in the morning on Saturday the Adrian Darya 1 was off the coast of Tasucu Turkey in the waters between Turkey and Esentepe in […]
Why is Trump’s tweet about Iran satellite failed launch causing controversy?
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN The US was not involved in the “catastrophic accident” that befell an Iranian rocket launch, US President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday. The tweet adds […]
Seth Frantzman speaks to Al-Jazeera about Iran-Israel tensions
On August 26 I went on al-Jazeera’s Inside Story to discuss the Iran-Israel tensions. In the segment the participants discussed the tensions from different perspectives. In the opening bit they […]
