Michael Weiss
Friday, August 5, 2016 - 06:37
The Russian government is trying to poach Syrian rebels trained and equipped by the United States for the war against ISIS, according to the political leader of a prominent Pentagon-backed brigade in Aleppo—and the rebels are strongly considering Russia’s offer.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016 - 06:41
The Mu’tasim Brigade appears to be the very model of a fighting force the U.S. Defense Department can get behind—so why is it always running short of bullets and shells?
Friday, February 5, 2016 - 06:19
A CIA-backed anti-Assad militia reportedly killed at least one senior Russian military official this week with an American TOW anti-tank missile. Is this a Soviet-Afghan replay?
Friday, September 25, 2015 - 06:16
The story of a missing Syrian rebel who may or may not have defected to al Qaeda just got more interesting, thanks to a video obtained exclusively by The Daily Beast which purports to show the first sign of him since his variously explained disappearance in northern Syria this week.
Thursday, September 24, 2015 - 06:00
The commander of Division 30, one of the U.S.-trained Syrian rebel groups, has allegedly defected from the train-and-equip program, according to a message he posted on social media, amid rumors (and denials) that he may have actually gone over to Jabhat al-Nusra, the official al Qaeda franchise in his war-ravaged country.
Monday, August 24, 2015 - 06:52
Reporter Elena Milashina has concluded that the “Russian special services have controlled” the flow of jihadists into Syria, where they have lately joined up not only with ISIS but other radical Islamist factions.
Monday, June 1, 2015 - 08:13
A centerpiece of the U.S. war plan against ISIS is in danger of collapsing. A key rebel commander and his men are ready to ready to pull out in frustration of the U.S. program to train a rebel army to beat back the terror group in Syria, The Daily Beast has learned. The issue: the American government's demand that the rebels can't use any of their newfound battlefield prowess or U.S.-provided weaponry against the army of Bashar al-Assad.
Monday, March 30, 2015 - 07:13
American warplanes have begun bombing the Islamic State-held Iraqi city of Tikrit in order to bail out the embattled, stalled ground campaign launched by Baghdad and Tehran two weeks ago. This operation, billed as “revenge” for the Islamic State (IS) massacre of 1,700 Shiite soldiers at Camp Speicher last June, was launched without any consultation with Washington.
Friday, February 13, 2015 - 07:13
A press freedom advocate -- and husband of an American servicewoman -- went to the U.S. embassy in Azerbaijan, fearing for his life. But he was turned away.