The Islamic State advance has stalled, badly. Let's be clear, IS are still in the pound seats. Its just that their lightning quick blitzkrieg assault it launched in June to overrun Mosul has, well, stopped. The battle lines are drawn and they are, in Iraq at least, meeting their match. Shiite militias and core Iraqi military forces in and around Baghdad and the Kurd militias in the north are putting up fierce resistance to the increasingly brazen IS. The story is different in Syria of course. IS have continued to plunder the north and north east and have expelled rival militias and regime forces from three governorates. Only the dturdy Kurds remain in their enclaves along the northern border with Turkey. This is probably were they will stay, for now, as IS look for bigger fish to fry. Clue, Aleppo.
The Institute for the Study of War has been following Iraq and Syria developments very closely. Indeed, it seems they are dedicating all of their considerable analyst knowledge to tracking and reporting on the war. I think, and I think you will agree, that their site is top drawer. Here is a copy of their recent update map. These are produced daily.
The full site can be accessed here. http://iswiraq.blogspot.com/ An analysts wet dream. Thank ISW.
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