A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
During the first quarter of 2026, the U.S. government approved over $45 billion in potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) with the overwhelming majority supporting Middle Eastern allies. Of total global …
War Dividends: Potential U.S. Arms Sales to the Middle East Surge in Q1 2026 Read More
The U.S. and Iraqi governments have begun the process of discussing a timeline of withdrawal for the U.S. and allied military personnel stationed in the Middle Eastern nation, according to …
Iraq Withdrawal Talks Present Watershed Moment Read More
U.S. coalition forces saw an uptick in attacks against their facilities this week, likely due to the January 3 anniversary of a U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani …
Explosive Drones and Rockets Target U.S. Coalition Forces in Iraq and Syria Read More
An Iraqi politician stated this week that Baghdad will turn to Russia for airvdefense equipment if it cannot procure modern systems from the United States. The chairman of the Security …
Iraqi MP Says Baghdad Considering Russian Air Defense Systems Read More Iraq will send military delegations to Russia, Ukraine, and China to discuss the potential purchase of air-defense weapons, an Iraqi lawmaker has said. On January 20, 2020, Badr al-Ziyadi, who …
Iraq Examining Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese SAM Systems Read More
The United States could cut military assistance to Iraq if it moves to oust American troops. The Wall Street Journal reported on January 14 that the Trump administration may move …
U.S. Could Cut Iraqi Military Assistance Read More
Overnight on January 7, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted a missile strike on several bases in neighboring Iraq that house American and other international troops, carrying out a revenge …
Iranian Missile Salvo Strikes Iraqi Bases Housing American Troops Read More
Tension and uncertainty continue to mount in the wake of a U.S. military strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Tehran has vowed …
Iran Tensions Heighten while Iraq Questions U.S. Troop Presence Read More
The first reaction of many Americans to the news of Qassem Soleimani’s killing on January 3 was fear that this strike might lead to a war between the U.S. and …
It Isn’t World War III Read More
After several tense days in Iraq, the U.S. on January 2 carried out precision air strikes on a pair of vehicles close to Baghdad International Airport, resulting in the deaths …
U.S. Combat Strikes Takes Out Iranian General Soleimani Read More