Paul McLeary

Paul McLeary was a staff writer at Foreign Policy from 2015-2018.

Articles by Paul McLeary
A fighter from the Syriac Military Council (SMC), a small minority of Christian fighters supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces in the combat against the Islamic State (IS) group, walks in the suburb of al-Rumaniya on the western outskirts of Raqa on June 27, 2017, after the area was seized from the jihadists. As the fightback against IS intensified the Syriac Military Council (SMC) -- formed in 2013 to defend the community during Syria's civil war -- joined with the SDF. After a months-long operation to encircle Raqa, the SDF burst into the city on June 6 and are chipping away at jihadist-held districts, with help from heavy US-led coalition air strikes. / AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN (Photo credit should read DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images)
A fighter from the Syriac Military Council (SMC), a small minority of Christian fighters supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces in the combat against the Islamic State (IS) group, walks in the suburb of al-Rumaniya on the western outskirts of Raqa on June 27, 2017, after the area was seized from the jihadists. As the fightback against IS intensified the Syriac Military Council (SMC) -- formed in 2013 to defend the community during Syria's civil war -- joined with the SDF. After a months-long operation to encircle Raqa, the SDF burst into the city on June 6 and are chipping away at jihadist-held districts, with help from heavy US-led coalition air strikes. / AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN (Photo credit should read DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

SitRep: U.S. Troops in the Thick of it in Mosul and Raqqa

The Cable
Paul McLeary
Russian Air Force Su-24 bombers fly during a military exercise in southern Russia on February 11, 2015. Marathon talks in Belarus ended on February 12 with a ceasefire announcement in the war between Ukraine and pro-Moscow rebels, but Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that "big hurdles" remained. AFP PHOTO / SERGEY VENYAVSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEY VENYAVSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Russian Air Force Su-24 bombers fly during a military exercise in southern Russia on February 11, 2015. Marathon talks in Belarus ended on February 12 with a ceasefire announcement in the war between Ukraine and pro-Moscow rebels, but Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that "big hurdles" remained. AFP PHOTO / SERGEY VENYAVSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEY VENYAVSKY/AFP/Getty Images)

SitRep: Pentagon Outlines Russian Threat; U.S. Builds New Raqqa Militia; Trump Delivers Beijing One-Two Punch

The Cable
Paul McLeary
A fighter from the Syriac Military Council (SMC), a small minority of Christian fighters supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces in the combat against the Islamic State (IS) group, walks in the suburb of al-Rumaniya on the western outskirts of Raqa on June 27, 2017, after the area was seized from the jihadists. As the fightback against IS intensified the Syriac Military Council (SMC) -- formed in 2013 to defend the community during Syria's civil war -- joined with the SDF. After a months-long operation to encircle Raqa, the SDF burst into the city on June 6 and are chipping away at jihadist-held districts, with help from heavy US-led coalition air strikes. / AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN (Photo credit should read DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images)
A fighter from the Syriac Military Council (SMC), a small minority of Christian fighters supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces in the combat against the Islamic State (IS) group, walks in the suburb of al-Rumaniya on the western outskirts of Raqa on June 27, 2017, after the area was seized from the jihadists. As the fightback against IS intensified the Syriac Military Council (SMC) -- formed in 2013 to defend the community during Syria's civil war -- joined with the SDF. After a months-long operation to encircle Raqa, the SDF burst into the city on June 6 and are chipping away at jihadist-held districts, with help from heavy US-led coalition air strikes. / AFP PHOTO / DELIL SOULEIMAN (Photo credit should read DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Seven Days, a Gun, and a Prayer: The Pentagon’s Plan to Pacify Raqqa

Report
Paul McLeary
Defense Secretary James Mattis(R) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee on defense readiness and budget update in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on March 22, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Defense Secretary James Mattis(R) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee Defense Subcommittee on defense readiness and budget update in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on March 22, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

SitRep: Defense Budget Fight Teed Up; South Korean President Meets Trump; U.S. and Iran in Syria

The Cable
Paul McLeary
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - JUNE 28: U.S. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen brief the media after bilateral talks before the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Marshall Plan at George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies on June 28, 2017 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The Marshall Plan was established 1947 after World War II to fund the rebuilding of Germany after the war. (Photo by Lennart Preiss/Getty Images)
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - JUNE 28: U.S. Defense Secretary James N. Mattis and German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen brief the media after bilateral talks before the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Marshall Plan at George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies on June 28, 2017 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The Marshall Plan was established 1947 after World War II to fund the rebuilding of Germany after the war. (Photo by Lennart Preiss/Getty Images)

SitRep: Mattis Hits Russia, Backs NATO; Tillerson, Lavrov, and Syria; American Taliban Release Coming

The Cable
Paul McLeary
A picture taken on April 7, 2017 shows a view of the damaged Shayrat ("ash-Shairat") airfield at the Syrian government forces military base targeted earlier overnight by US Tomahawk cruise missiles, southeast of the central and third largest Syrian city of Homs. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)
A picture taken on April 7, 2017 shows a view of the damaged Shayrat ("ash-Shairat") airfield at the Syrian government forces military base targeted earlier overnight by US Tomahawk cruise missiles, southeast of the central and third largest Syrian city of Homs. / AFP PHOTO / STRINGER (Photo credit should read STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

Intel Reports Prompt U.S. Warning to Assad Over Chemical Weapons

The Cable
Paul McLeary, Dan De Luce
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 5: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley holds up photos of victims of the Syrian chemical attack during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council at U.N. headquarters, April 5, 2017 in New York City. The Security Council is holding emergency talks on Wednesday following the worst use of chemical weapons in Syria since the Ghouta attack in 2013. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 5: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley holds up photos of victims of the Syrian chemical attack during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council at U.N. headquarters, April 5, 2017 in New York City. The Security Council is holding emergency talks on Wednesday following the worst use of chemical weapons in Syria since the Ghouta attack in 2013. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

SitRep: White House Warns Assad; U.N. Ambo. Adds Russia to List; Mattis Talks Dividing Up Syria

The Cable
Paul McLeary
US President Donald J. Trump (C) sits with members of his administration; US Defense Secretary James Mattis (L), US Vice President Mike Pence (2-L) and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (R) during a luncheon with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan (not pictured) and members of the Turkish delegation, in the Cabinet Room of the White House on May 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump and Erdogan face the issue of working out cooperation in the fight against terrorism as Turkey objects to the US arming of Kurdish forces in Syria. (Photo by Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)
US President Donald J. Trump (C) sits with members of his administration; US Defense Secretary James Mattis (L), US Vice President Mike Pence (2-L) and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (R) during a luncheon with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan (not pictured) and members of the Turkish delegation, in the Cabinet Room of the White House on May 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump and Erdogan face the issue of working out cooperation in the fight against terrorism as Turkey objects to the US arming of Kurdish forces in Syria. (Photo by Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

SitRep: CIA’s Secret Syria Contacts; Tillerson Bashed by Anonymous WH Officials; State Shuttering Afghan Office

The Cable
Paul McLeary
A picture taken on June 20, 2017 shows Mosul's leaning Al-Hadba minaret as the Iraqi forces advance towards the Old City to retake the last district still held by the Islamic State (IS) group fighters. / AFP PHOTO / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images)
A picture taken on June 20, 2017 shows Mosul's leaning Al-Hadba minaret as the Iraqi forces advance towards the Old City to retake the last district still held by the Islamic State (IS) group fighters. / AFP PHOTO / MOHAMED EL-SHAHED (Photo credit should read MOHAMED EL-SHAHED/AFP/Getty Images)

SitRep: North Korea Wrangling; Hill Wrestles With Russia Sanctions; Debate Over Syria Strategy Continues

The Cable
Paul McLeary
till crop
till crop

Mattis, Tillerson Slam North Korea After Warmbier Death

The Cable
Robbie Gramer, Paul McLeary
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 19: Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman (R in doorway) walks with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis (L in doorway) to the meeting with their delegations on April 19, 2017 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst - Pool/Getty Images)
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 19: Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman (R in doorway) walks with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis (L in doorway) to the meeting with their delegations on April 19, 2017 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst - Pool/Getty Images)

SitRep: Huge Changes in Saudi; Iranian Drones Downed in Syria, Pakistan; Mattis Praises Ukraine in Russia Fight

The Cable
Paul McLeary
A US airman (C) stands near F-15C fighter planes on the tarmac as part of the combat search and rescue exercise "Cope Taufan" in Butterworth, some 330 kilometres northwest of Kuala Lumpur on June 15, 2014. The US Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force participated in exercise Cope Taufan 14 to improve combined readiness and cooperation between the two countries. AFP PHOTO / MOHD RASFAN (Photo credit should read MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images)
A US airman (C) stands near F-15C fighter planes on the tarmac as part of the combat search and rescue exercise "Cope Taufan" in Butterworth, some 330 kilometres northwest of Kuala Lumpur on June 15, 2014. The US Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force participated in exercise Cope Taufan 14 to improve combined readiness and cooperation between the two countries. AFP PHOTO / MOHD RASFAN (Photo credit should read MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images)

SitRep: U.S., Russia Still Talking in Syria; Iraqi, Syrian Troops Meet at Border; Baltic Buildup Complete

The Cable
Paul McLeary
A picture shows two Russian S-400 Triumf S-400 Triumf missile system at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, in the northwest of Syria, on December 16, 2015. Russia began its air war in Syria on September 30, conducting air strikes against a range of anti-regime armed groups including US-backed rebels and jihadist groups. Moscow has said it is fighting and other "terrorist groups," but its campaign has come under fire by Western officials who accuse the Kremlin of seeking to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. / AFP / Paul GYPTEAU (Photo credit should read PAUL GYPTEAU/AFP/Getty Images)
A picture shows two Russian S-400 Triumf S-400 Triumf missile system at the Russian Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, in the northwest of Syria, on December 16, 2015. Russia began its air war in Syria on September 30, conducting air strikes against a range of anti-regime armed groups including US-backed rebels and jihadist groups. Moscow has said it is fighting and other "terrorist groups," but its campaign has come under fire by Western officials who accuse the Kremlin of seeking to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. / AFP / Paul GYPTEAU (Photo credit should read PAUL GYPTEAU/AFP/Getty Images)

Russia Threatens U.S. Warplanes in Syria, Escalating Tensions

The Cable
Paul McLeary
Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, a twin-engine, supersonic, all weather multirole fighter takes part in a flying display at the Farnborough Airshow, south west of London, on July 12, 2016. / AFP / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, a twin-engine, supersonic, all weather multirole fighter takes part in a flying display at the Farnborough Airshow, south west of London, on July 12, 2016. / AFP / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

SitRep: More Fighting Between Syria, Iran, and U.S.; USS Fitzgerald Goes Home; What Afghanistan Strategy?

The Cable
Paul McLeary
US Defense Secretary James Mattis (L) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford are seen on West Executive Drive after briefing US senators on the situation in North Korea in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House on April 26, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
US Defense Secretary James Mattis (L) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford are seen on West Executive Drive after briefing US senators on the situation in North Korea in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House on April 26, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

White House Officials Push for Widening War in Syria Over Pentagon Objections

Exclusive
Kate Brannen, Dan De Luce, Paul McLeary
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