The new U.S. administration has put on hold a plan proposed by former-President Barack Obama, and backed by the Pentagon, to directly arm the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG, Yekîneyên...
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) officially launched its operation to take the city of Manbij on May 31. It is one of the most strategic and difficult operations the SDF...
Islamic State’s self-styled caliphate in Iraq has been standing on its last legs since June 26 when the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Shia Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) secured Fallujah....
After months of negotiation, the United States finally gave the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - which is dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and includes the Syrian...
In an unexpected move on December 26, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is dominated by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), captured the Tishreen Dam close to Manbijin, Syria...
The Kurds play a key role in the war against the Islamic State as they are located on the periphery of the jihadist organization’s two de-facto capitals, Raqqa in Syria...
Sweden's Expressen newspaper discussed Russia's accusation that Turkey is buying oil from the Islamic State with Jamestown analyst with Wladimir van Wilgenburg.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, a Jamestown analyst of Kurdish political affairs, was quoted in a Business Insider article on Russia accusing Turkey of buying oil from the Islamic State.
Abu Issa al-Raqqawi is the head of the Liwa Thuwar al-Raqqa (Raqqa Revolutionaries’ Brigade) and a former manager of an agricultural company who could play a key role in defeating...
Russia, on September 30, launched airstrikes in support of the Syrian government in order to stop the advance of the Turkish and Saudi-backed Islamist Sunni rebel group Jaysh al-Fatah (“Army...
On June 16, the Kurdish militia group People’s Protection Units (Yekîneyên Parastina Gel—YPG) and its Free Syrian Army (FSA) allies captured the Islamic State-controlled Syrian town of Tal Abyad on...
The Iraqi Kurdish cleric Mullah Shwan (a.k.a. Abu Haroon al-Kurdi) was killed in a coalition airstrike on July 28, in Kirkuk province (Basnews, July 29). Mullah Shwan was the second-highest...
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish affairs for Jamestown, discussed the Islamic State's recruitment among Kurdish youth with The Irish Times.
Business Insider discussed Turkish strategy against the Islamic State and against Kurdish groups with Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish politics for Jamestown.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed Turkey's shift in the anti-Islamic State campaign to include strikes against Kurdish forces and the response that may come from Kurdish groups, such as the PKK, with al-Jazeera.
Sputnik quoted Wladimir van Wilgenburg on Turkey's recent decision to let the anti-Islamic State coalition use Incirlik air base while the country targets Kurdish forces.
Van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish affairs for Jamestown, discussed Turkey's preference for fighting Kurdish forces as opposed to the Islamic State in Syria for RFE/RL's Under the Black Flag.
The Chicago Tribune quoted Wladimir van Wilgenburg on the difficulty in building militias in Syria and Iraq to fight the Islamic State and how the Kurdish groups fit into U.S....
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish affairs for The Jamestown Foundation, discussed whether or not Kurdish forces in Syria will be able to maintain the territory that they have...
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the Islamic State's attacks on Syrian Kurdish areas as a responsive to the Kurdish seizure of towns near the Islamic State capital of Raqqa with the...
AFP quoted Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish politics for Jamestown, on how the Kurdish groups' (like the PKK and YPG) past experiences enable them to fight against the Islamic State.
AFP discussed the recent military success of the Kurdish militias against the Islamic State with Wladimir van Wilgenburg.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, a Jamestown analyst of Kurdish affairs, discussed the Islamic State's defeat at Tal Abyad by Kurdish forces with AP.
The Wall Street Journal discussed recent Kurdish offensives against theIslamic state in Tel Ebyad, Syria with Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish affairs for Jamestown.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the future of the Islamic State with Haaretz on the anniversary of the militant organization's conquest of Mosul.
International Business Times talked to Wladimir van Wilgenburg about the impact of the success of the Kurdish political party in the recent Turkish elections and how that impacts Abdullah Ocalan,...
A new Islamist coalition called the Army of Conquest (Jaysh al-Fateh) has in the last few months have scored significant victories against the Syrian government, capturing most of Idlib province...
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed Yazidi and Kurdish militias fighting against the Islamic State in Iraq with RFE/RL.
The recent Turkish election and the electoral gains made by the Kurdish party were discussed by Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish affairs for Jamestown, with al-Jazeera.
El Mundo, the Spanish newspaper, quoted Wladimir van Wilgenburg on Spanish snipers fighting against the Islamic State with Kurdish forces.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed how Kurdish forces are asking for military equipment in light of the gains made by the Islamic State at Ramadi for the Wall Street Journal.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish affairs for Jamestown, was quoted by the AP on Kurdish fighters and their will to fight the Islamic State.
As part of their ongoing offensive against the Islamic State, Iraq’s coalition of mainly Shi’a militias, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), in cooperation with the Iraqi armed forces have recently...
Spanish news website ES Global discussed the improving inter-Kurdish relations since last year due to attacks by the Islamic State with Wladimir van Wilgenburg
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed how Kurdish and Yazidi militias are interacting in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq with Bild.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the relationship between Iran and Kurdish groups in light of the fight against the Islamic State with Aawsat.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Iraqi and Kurdish politics for Jamestown, discussed the role that former Iraqi Baathists now play in the Islamic State for Bild.
AP quoted Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish affairs, on how Syrian Kurds, Turkey and the United States are interacting after victory at Kobane.
In recent months, the Islamic State militant group has started using ethnic Kurdish militants in operations against the security forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq and in...
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish politics for Jamestown, discussed the Islamic State's destruction of antiquities in a Mosul museum with Bild.
Recent events have raised fresh questions over the relationship between the Islamic State militant group and al-Qaeda. For instance, militants from the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula...
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the Islamic State with Bild.
An analyst of Kurdish politics, Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the United States stationing search and rescue teams in Iraqi Kurdistan, irritating Baghdad, with Newsweek
Bild discussed the Islamic State's kidnapping and brainwashing of Yazidi children to fight with the militant group with Wladimir van Wilgenburg.
German newspaper Die Bild discussed the Islamic State's defeat in Kobane and what that means for the terrorist group and the anti-Islamic State coalition with Wladimir van Wilgenburg.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analysis of Kurdish politics for Jamestown, wrote an op-ed explaining that even though the Islamic State has been defeated at Kobane, the fight against the terrorist...
Newsweek discussed the Iraqi Kurds land grab of territory that they have recovered from the Islamic State with Wladimir van Wilgenburg.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish politics for Jamestown, was quoted in an article on Kurdish leaders not being invited to a meeting on how to defeat the Islamic...
The likelihood of the Islamic State operating a TV station out of Mosul was discussed by Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish affairs for Jamestown.
Bild Zeitung, a German tabloid newspaper, quoted Wladimir van Wilgenburg on the recent public executions in Mosul by the Islamic State.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish affairs for Jamestown, discussed the impact of U.S. and coalition airstrikes on the Kurdish defense of Kobane with AP.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed Kurdish politics and the fight against the Islamic State for Middle East Eye.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst on Kurdish politics, discussed Gill Rosenberg, a Canadian-Israeli woman who supposedly joined the YPG in Syria and then went missing, with The National Post
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish politics for Jamestown, discussed the role of women in the PKK.
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the power-sharing deal that Syrian Kurds signed in order to better take advantage of international assistance
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst of Kurdish politics, discussed the evolution of Turkey's response to the Islamic State organization's siege of the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobane.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed Kurdish unity in light of the Islamic State organization's attacks on Iraq and Syria.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the relationship between the Syrian Kurds, the PKK and the Turkish government with regards to the Islamic State organization's attacks on Kobane.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the recent airdrop of supplies to Syrian Kurds in Kobane by the U.S. and Iraqi Kurds.
La Vanguardia, a Spanish newspaper, quoted Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst on Kurdish politics for Jamestown, on Kurdish unity in the wake of the Islamic State organization's siege of Kobane.
The Daily Star, out of Lebanon, discussed with Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst on Kurdish politics, the Kurdish militia (PYG) that is battling Islamic State militants in Kobane.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst on Kurdish politics, discussed the ongoing Islamic State offensive against the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobane.
An analyst of Kurdish politics, Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the current siege of the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani with Syria Deeply.
On September 15, the Islamic State, previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), launched a fourth siege on the Syrian city of Kobani (Ayn al-Arab in...
National Geographic quoted Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst on Kurdish politics, on the latest Islamic State siege of the town of Kobani.
The BBC discussed the financing and support of Islamic State with Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, an analyst on Kurdish politics, discussed the recent fighting between Kurdish forces and Islamic State militants.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, one of Jamestown's foremost experts on the Kurds, published an article in Hurriyet Daily News on the need for Turkey to protect Iraqi Kurds.
Jamestown Iraq analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg gave remarks on Kurdish sovereignty after the ISIS campaign in Iraq.
Executive Summary The recent advance of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and collapse of a quarter the Iraqi Army has created both opportunities and threats for the...
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the Kurdish takeover of Kirkuk, Iraq.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, a Kurdish analyst here at Jamestown, discussed the Syrian Kurds' response to ISIS operations in Iraq.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the ongoing ISIS offensive in Iraq.
The Romanian paper discussed the ongoing crisis in Iraq caused by ISIS rapid gain of territory with Wladimir van Wilgenburg.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg gave remarks on the ability of the Kurdish Peshmerga in Iraq to fight ISIS.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discussed the actions of terrorist group ISIS in Iraq for the Turkish newspaper.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg was interviewed by Turkish television channel TRT Turk on the ISIS campaign against Iraqi forces.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted in an article on Kurdish fighters being mobilized against the ISIS militia in Iraq.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg was interviewed while on the ground in Iraq as the ISIS militia continues to gain territory.
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted in an article on Syrian Kurds and their relations with jihadist rebel groups.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted on the fighting between ISIS and Kurdish militias in Syria which has led to 200 Kurds being taken hostage by the former.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted in an article by Zenith Magazine on how the Syrian Kurdish population is handling the refugee disaster as well as an expected attack by al-Assad's force...
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted in an article on the relationship between the Kurdish areas of Iraq and the central government in Baghdad.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg, a Jamestown analyst on the Middle East, was quoted in an article on the Kurdish perspective of Iraqi elections.
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted by German newspaper Die Welt on an article about the desire for Kurdish autonomy in Iraq.
The main Kurdish militia in Syria, the Yekîneyên Parastina Gel (YPG – Kurdish People’s Protection Units), has survived a siege of the town of Kobani (Arabic: Ayn al-Arab) by Islamist...
Wladimir van Wilgenburg was cited by Radio Sawa in an article about Kurdish parties in Iraq.
Wladimir van Wilgenburg was cited by al-Hurra in an article about Kurdish parties in Iraq.
Kurdish jihadist militants, who were dealt a devastating blow by the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, have recently made a powerful resurgence thanks to the absence of U.S. troops in...
Analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was interviewed by Syria Deeply in an article titled "Are Syrian Kurds Being Left Out in Montreux?"
Jamestown President Glen E. Howard and analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg's discussion on the future of Kurds in Syria, which was hosted by the Jamestown Foundation, was featured by Kurdistan TV.
Kurdish fighters in Syria have taken greater control of areas inhabited by both Arabs and Kurds since July 16, and aim to capture three other mixed areas in the governorates...
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was cited by Hurriyet in an article about Kurds in Syria.
Jamestown Foundation analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted by NOW in an article about an offensive recently launched by the YPG in direct retaliation to ajoint ISIS-Jabhat al-Nusra suicide attack in al-Qahtaniyah, in...
The Syrian government has routinely harassed, repressed and discriminated against the Syrian Kurds for decades. Since the Arab Spring arrived in Syria, the country’s government forces have abandoned many Kurdish...
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted by International Business Times in an article concerning the Kurdistan Parliamentary Election.
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg spoke with Irin News about aid agencies in Iraq that are grappling with an influx of Syrian refugees.
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted by The National in an article titled "A rare welcome for Syria's Kurdish refugees."
Wladimir van Wilgenburg discusses PKK militia fighting against Islamists in Syria on TAZ.
Jamestown expert Wladimir van Wilgenburg was a featured commentator in an article published by Hurriyet about clashes between Islamists and Syrian Kurds.
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was a featured speaker on al-Jazeera in a discussion about the Kurds in Syria.
It has recently become clear that the Kurdish nationalist Partiya Yekîtiya Demokrat (PYD - Democratic Union Party) wants to form an interim government in the Kurdish regions of Syria on...
Jalal Talabani, president of Iraq and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK—Yeketî Nistîmanî Kurdistan), was admitted to a hospital in Baghdad on December 17, 2012 after he reportedly suffered...
Summary Clashes between Kurdish militias and armed Syrian opposition groups in Aleppo starting at the end of October in Ras al-Ayn near the Turkish border have raised the specter of...
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was quoted by AP in an article about a recent bomb attack in Turkey. AP quoted his analysis in an article published by Jamestown Foundation in...
Kurdish militias recently took control of several towns in northern Syria, raising fears in Turkey that in addition to their camps in the mountainous border areas in Iraq, the Partiya...
Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenberg was quoted by Egypt Daily News in an article about "The Battle for Control in Syria."
The ongoing political and security crisis in Syria has provided unexpected opportunities for Syria’s Kurdish community to initiate diplomatic discussions with Russia, China and Iran in its pursuit of regional...
Jamestown Foundation's analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg was interviewed by Southern European Times on February 29 about the return of Kurdish Hizbullah.
Kirkuk’s Sunni Arab parties are not happy over the recent decisions of the Iraqi PM Nuri al-Maliki and the Iraqi cabinet to turn the U.S. military base at Kirkuk into...
Lebanese news source and forum Now Lebanon interviewed Jamestown analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg about Kurds in Syria.
Jamestown Analyst Wladimir van Wilgenburg cited in an article on Turkish Hizbullah in SES Turkiye
Syria ended its support for the Kurdish rebels of the Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan (PKK) in 1998 and expelled PKK-leader Abdullah Ocalan, a move that ultimately led to his arrest in...
The Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan (PKK – Kurdistan Workers Party) is a highly centralized organization guided by an almost cult-like worship of its imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan. There are however other individuals...
Iran has recently shelled border villages and launched cross-border raids into northern Iraq to step up pressure on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to stop the anti-Iranian operations of the...
There is not much known about Hassan Ghul, the alleged conduit whose information led to the killing of former al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. The mysterious Hassan Ghul...
The commander of the Mosul-based Second Division of the Iraqi Army, Major General Nasser al-Ghannam, claims he has improved security in the former insurgent hotbed of Mosul and does not...
Recent media reports suggest that a new phase of Syrian-Turkish military cooperation has begun against Kurdish militants of the Parti Karkerani Kurdistan (PKK - Kurdistan Workers Party) in Syria. However,...
The rising tension and provocative rhetoric surrounding Iran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons are a matter of public record. Yet, are there other agendas being played out amidst the larger...
With an intelligence and military wing of over 1,000 people, the Sulaymaniyah-based Counter Terrorism Group (CTG) collects intelligence and carries out operations to prevent terrorists in Iraq from destabilizing the...
According to Masrour Barzani, director of the Ajansi Parastini Asayishi Heremi Kurdistan (Kurdistan Region Security Protection Agency) of northern Iraq, Kurdish security agencies have the legal right to operate outside...
Murat Karayilan is the acting commander of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan - PKK) and chairman of the executive council of the Kurdish Democratic Confederation (Koma Civaken Kurdistan...
Reports indicate that Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (Parti Karkerani Kurdistan - PKK), will release a “roadmap” for resolving Turkey’s decades-old Kurdish insurgency on August...
The enigmatic figure of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish-born U.S. resident who runs an extensive Islamic movement in Turkey, has been warned by the Kurdish Hezbollah (Hezbollahi Kurdi - HK) against...
For many people in the West, mention of the “Assyrians” brings to mind the relentless empire-builders of northern Iraq who conquered most of the Middle East, including Egypt and large...
Until recently, speakers of the Zaza language within Turkey have been considered part of the vast Kurdish ethnic group spread over Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria. In the 1980s, the...