The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is an American advocacy think tank founded in 2007 by military historian Kimberly Kagan and headquartered in Washington, D.C.[1][2] ISW has provided analysis of modern armed conflicts and foreign affairs, including the Gaza war, Syrian civil war, the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, 2026 Iran war and Russo-Ukrainian war.[3][4] ISW's political stance has been described as ?hawkish?[5][6] and neoconservative.[7][8] Major contributors to its funding include leading military contractors.[7]