The US State Department finds that the number of "terrorist attacks" around the world rose by a third in 2014, largely due to the expansion of ISIS and Boko Haram.
The Obama administration sent a report to Congress criticizing Egypt for human rights abuses and lack of progress toward democracy but still supporting $1.3 billion in mostly military aid.
ISIS advanced on Aleppo and launched an offensive on the Syrian Kurdish city of Hassakeh as the US and coalition partners met in Paris. No Kurdish leaders were invited to the summit.
Key provisions of the USA Patriot Act allowing "Bulk Data Collection" and "Roving Wiretaps" expired after a late Senate vote failed to establish an extension.
The US government formally removed Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as a step toward restoring full diplomatic relations. Cuba had been listed since 1982.
World War 4 Report offers its annual annotated assessment of Obama's moves in dismantling, continuing or escalating the apparatus of the Global War on Terrorism.
A group of US senators led by John McCain proposed legislation that would place a moratorium on the release or transfer of prisoners from Guantánamo Bay.
The UK Home Secretary announced a new Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill that would expand travel restrictions and Internet surveillance.
A study by UK-based Institute for Economics and Peace finds there were nearly 10,000 terrorist attacks in 2013, 44% more than the year before.
The Assad regime dubiously claims to be aiding the Kurdish defenders of ISIS-besieged Kobani—a transparent attempt at an Arab-versus-Kurdish divide-and-rule stratagem.
Warplanes flying from the USS George HW Bush carried out the first US air-strikes against ISIS targets in Syria, with planes from five Arab countries also participating in the raids.
The Obama administration is preparing to carry out a campaign against ISIS that may take three years to complete, involving a coalition of some 40 countries.
