ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

Click to see the full-size image The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has recaptured the abandoned battalion from ISIS north of the T4 airbase in the province of Homs. The advance came after the  5th Assault Corps  liberated the Al-Sha’er gas field and a range of highlands near the Al-Mahr gas field. Click to see the full-size map Separately, government forces repelled a large-scale ISIS attack on the Al-Sukari area southeast of Palmyra. ISIS claimed that four Syrian soldiers were killed as a result of the clashes. ISIS had deployed some reinforcements to eastern Homs following the significant advances made by the SAA and the Free Syrian Army in the desert of Palmyra and Damascus. ISIS seeks to keep the presence in this area in order to prevent further advances of anti-ISIS forces along the Syrian-Iraqi border. The current operation of the SAA in the vicinity of Palmyra aims to secure the Al-Mahr gas field northwest of Palmyra, the Arak gas field east of Palmyra a...

Does North Korea really pose a military threat to anyone?  A comparison of the military assets of the two Koreas. Written by  Brian Kalman  exclusively for  SouthFront ;   Brian Kalman is a management professional in the marine transportation industry. He was an officer in the US Navy for eleven years. He currently resides and works in the Caribbean. Introduction As the very real threat of a military confrontation breaking out on the Korean Peninsula once again becomes probable, it is important to reassess the current military capabilities of both the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and the Democratic Peoples’ Republic of Korea (North Korea). An analysis of the respective militaries will give a clearer picture of the probability of a conflict, and how such a conflict might unfold. A realistic assessment of the balance of power on the peninsula, as well as the forces that can be brought to bear by likely allies, will also provide insight into the mo...