Monthly briefing from the Open Briefing intelligence unit on developments in remote-control warfare. This month: NATO designates cyberspace as an operational domain and includes cyber attacks in Article 5; newly-released official estimates of casualties from US drone strikes step in right direction but too limited; Iraqi special forces play critical role retaking Fallujah from Islamic State; and more.
Category: Publications
The weekly briefing, 2 August 2016: United Kingdom begins to feel negative economic consequences of Brexit decision, al-Nusra Front changes name and splits from al-Qaeda, Thailand’s ruling junta cracking down on dissent ahead of constitutional referendum
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: United Kingdom begins to feel negative economic consequences of decision by small majority of British voters to leave European Union; al-Nusra Front in Syria changes name and splits from al-Qaeda; Thailand’s ruling junta cracking down on dissent ahead of scheduled constitutional referendum that could strengthen its authority; and more.
Iran’s Shanghai dream
Tehran has enjoyed observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) since 2005, but has repeatedly pressed its case for full membership. The organisation's two centres of power disagree over Iran's position: Moscow supports Iranian accession but Beijing seemingly opposes such a move. Iran shares with the SCO the ambition to challenge US dominance and the Western-led order. For Iran, the SCO is also the closest it has to an international defence bulwark, since it is not a member of any other regional security organisation.
The weekly briefing, 26 July 2016: Zimbabwe war veterans withdraw support for Robert Mugabe, Brazilian federal police arrest 10 people suspected of planning to attack Olympic Games, four violent attacks occur across southern Germany in last week
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association withdraws support for Robert Mugabe; Federal police in Brazil arrest 10 people suspected of planning to carry out terrorist attack during Olympic Games; four violent attacks occur across southern Germany in last week, with two linked to Islamic State; and more.
The weekly briefing, 19 July 2016: Venezuela’s president appoints defence minister as ‘co-president’, Papua New Guinea’s opposition issues no confidence motion in country’s prime minister, attack on Bastille Day celebrations in Nice leaves 84 people dead
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: Venezuela’s president orders military to regulate five of country’s largest ports and appoints defence minister as ‘co-president’; Papua New Guinea’s opposition issues no confidence motion in country’s prime minister; Lorry driven through Bastille Day celebrations in Nice, France, leaving 84 dead in attack claimed by Islamic State; and more.
The weekly briefing, 12 July 2016: UN tribunal rules on South China Sea dispute between Philippines and China; long-awaited Iraq Inquiry report leads to fresh calls for Tony Blair to face legal action over his role in Iraq war; opposition fighters launch attack on government-held districts in Aleppo after Syrian government forces cut supply route into city
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: UN International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea rules on dispute between Philippines and China over latter’s claims to South China Sea; long-awaited Iraq Inquiry report finally published and leads to fresh calls for former British prime minster Tony Blair to face legal action over his role in Iraq war; opposition fighters launch attack on government-held districts in Aleppo, Syria, after government forces cut their last supply route into city; and more.
The weekly briefing, 28 June 2016: Terrorist attacks in Somalia, Madagascar and Jordan; Britain votes to leave EU; North Korea tests intermediate-range missiles
Political and security risk updates from around the world. This week: al-Shabaab attacks hotel in Mogadishu, Islamic State carries out first attack in Jordan and two people killed in grenade attack in Madagascar; Britain reels from the political and economic fallout from the referendum vote to leave the European Union; North Korea test fires two intermediate-range missiles towards Japan; and more.
Remote-control warfare briefing #16, June 2016: Increasing awareness of risks of cyber conflict, Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen receive US special forces support, Islamic State-linked group urges militants to secure their communications
Monthly briefing from the Open Briefing intelligence unit on developments in remote-control warfare. This month: increasing awareness of risks of cyber conflict drives rise in cyber diplomacy; coalition forces in Yemen receive reinvigorated operational and intelligence support from US special operation forces; Islamic State-linked group urges militants to secure their communications; and more.
