This Week in War. A Friday round-up of what happened and what’s been written in the world of war and military/security affairs this week. It’s a mix of news reports, policy briefs, blog posts and longform journalism.
- Representatives for two rebel groups in Mali agreed to end hostilities and join together for peace talks with the government next month.
- Riek Machar’s rebel group in South Sudan have rejected a power-sharing deal.
- Vice reports on weapons moving into South Sudan.
- 17 were killed in in-fighting among factions of the Seleka rebel group in the Central African Republic.
- Abdullah al-Thinni has resigned as Libya’s prime minister in an attempt to end a power struggle.
- Egypt and the UAE have secretly carried out airstrikes in Libya.
- An indefinite ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Gaza.
- Scenes from on the ground in Gaza and Israel — captured by photographers Paolo Pellegrin and Peter van Agtmael.
- The UN says that 3 million people have fled Syria in the current conflict, and another 6.5 million have been internally displaced.
- American journalist Peter Theo Curtis, who has published under the name Theo Padnos, was released from captivity in Syria this week. He was held by the Nusra Front.
- His release was secured with the help of Qatar, who are continuing to try to negotiate the release of other Western hostages — one of whom is now known to be an American aid worker held by ISIS.
- Steve Coll on the kidnapping of journalists.
- ISIS captives, including James Foley, were waterboarded.
- Evan Hill remembers his correspondence with Foley.
- The mother of captive journalist Steven Sotloff has released a video plea to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi for her son’s freedom.
- Ben Hubbard and Eric Schmitt report on ISIS’s management and organizational structure.
- One piece of reporting indicates that there is support among non-extremist rebels in Syria for US action against ISIS, saying that ISIS has “ravaged” Syria and hijacked their revolution.
- Public beheadings have become a “common spectacle“ in Syria, according to the UN.
- Two journalists acquired an ISIS laptop — full of “how-tos” for weaponizing the bubonic plague, among other things.
- A 33-year-old US citizen — Douglas McCain — was killed fighting for ISIS in Syria. US intelligence has reportedly identified almost a dozen Americans who have similarly traveled abroad to join ISIS.
- 43 UN peacekeepers are being held by an armed group in Syrian Golan Heights.
- Mapping ISIS’ development and expansion in Syria and Iraq.
- In Iraq, ISIS is accused of ethnic cleansing in a prison massacre in Mosul where 670 Shia prisoners were reportedly killed.
- US airstrikes in Iraq, day by day.
- Armed Yemeni rebels staged sit ins this week outside the capital city, Sanaa, protesting the government.
- An ongoing, bloody Taliban offensive in southern Afghanistan has killed as many as 900 in some of the “worst fighting” in years.
- Afghanistan’s disputed presidential election is costing the country ‘s economy $5bn.
- PM Sharif has been named by Pakistani police as a murder suspect in the deaths of 14 protesters near Lahore in June.
- Thousands of Pakistani demonstrators, lead by Tahir ul-Qadri and Imran Khan, have camped out in front of parliament in Islamabad since mid-August demanding Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif step down. Pakistan’s army chief has now been named mediator in the crisis.
- Russia has opened up a new offensive in Ukraine and NATO has accused Russia of “blatant violation” of Ukrainian sovereignty.
- Ukrainian soldiers coming out of Novoazovsk say they were “cannon fodder“ for Russian tanks.
- Ukraine’s prime minister announced the country’s renewed intentions to join NATO.
- In photos: what remains of Donetsk.
- The debate over Russia’s invasion/incursion plays out, of course, on Twitter.
- Obama announced executive actions to benefit veterans, soldiers and military families.
- The prosecution rests in the Blackwater trial.
Photo: Donetsk, Ukraine. A damaged and bloody kitchen in downtown Donetsk. Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA.