U.S-BACKED FORCES SEIZE RAQQA’S OLD CITY FROMISIS BUT A TOUGH FIGHT LIES AHEAD

Sourced : The Washington Post By Liz Sly U.S.-backed forces in Syria have captured the Old City of Raqqa, the latest milestone in their ongoing assault against the self-proclaimed capital of the Islamic State’s rapidly shrinking territories, according to a U.S. military statement on Monday. Kurdish and Arab fighters with the Syrian Democratic Forces secured… Continue reading U.S-BACKED FORCES SEIZE RAQQA’S OLD CITY FROMISIS BUT A TOUGH FIGHT LIES AHEAD

TURKISH MILITARY BUILDUP IN NORTHERN SYRIA THREATENS AL-RAQQAH OPERATION

Sourced : Military Times By: Shawn Snow Kurdish activists claim Turkey is building up its military forces in northern Syria for an assault on the Kurdish held district of Afrin, a development that could cause serious setbacks in the ongoing American-backed operation to liberate the defacto capital of ISIS, Raqqa. U.S. officials in Baghdad say… Continue reading TURKISH MILITARY BUILDUP IN NORTHERN SYRIA THREATENS AL-RAQQAH OPERATION

ISIS DRONES ARE ATTACKING U.S TROOPS AND DISRUPTING AISTRIKES IN AL-RAQQAH

Sourced : The Washington Post By Thomas Gibbons-Neff Islamic State drones are attacking U.S. Special Operations forces located around the group’s de-facto capital of Raqqa in Syria, U.S. officials and Syrian fighters said, sometimes disrupting the ability of American troops to call in airstrikes. The Pentagon, in response, is looking to send additional anti-drone equipment… Continue reading ISIS DRONES ARE ATTACKING U.S TROOPS AND DISRUPTING AISTRIKES IN AL-RAQQAH

ERDOGAN : MANBIJ, RAQQAH ARE ANKARA’S TWO STRATEGIC TARGETS IN SYRIA

Sourced : Daily Sabah President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Turkey has two important targets in Syria, which are Manbij and Raqqa, while reiterating that the country will support the Raqqa operation if the PKK-affiliated Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD) does not participate. Last month, Turkey officially announced that Operation Euphrates Shield that, which been… Continue reading ERDOGAN : MANBIJ, RAQQAH ARE ANKARA’S TWO STRATEGIC TARGETS IN SYRIA

MORE US TROOPS BOUND FOR AFGHANISTAN AS MARINES COMMANDOS ARRIVE IN SYRIA

Sourced : Foreign Policy By Paul Macleary The top general overseeing America’s wars told Congress Thursday that more U.S. troops will likely be needed in Afghanistan to help train and advise Afghan forces, and left the door open to sending more U.S. forces into Iraq and Syria to fight the Islamic State. The comments by… Continue reading MORE US TROOPS BOUND FOR AFGHANISTAN AS MARINES COMMANDOS ARRIVE IN SYRIA

TURKEY WILL NOT TAKE PART IN AL-RAQQAH OPERATION IF KURDISH MILITANTS DO

Sourced : Hurriyet Daily News Turkey will not take part in a U.S.-led coalition operation to liberate the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s (ISIL) de facto capital of Raqqa if Syrian Kurdish fighters are also involved, Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said. Kalın ruled out the possibility of Turkey joining an operation by coalition… Continue reading TURKEY WILL NOT TAKE PART IN AL-RAQQAH OPERATION IF KURDISH MILITANTS DO

U.S MILITARY PROPOSES SENDING 250 MORE SPECIAL FORCES TO SYRIAN KURDISTAN

U.S. Army Soldiers along with Iraqi police officers clear and patrol the town of Aswad in the Diyala Province of Iraq Feb. 19, 2008. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sean Mulligan) (Released)

Sourced : EKurd Daily The Obama administration is considering sending 250 additional U.S. special forces to Syrian Kurdistan to advise Kurdish-led alliance groups as part of a broader Pentagon recommendation on how to increase the pace of operations against Islamic State (IS or ISIS), a U.S. defense official said Friday, CNN reported. The Syrian Democratic… Continue reading U.S MILITARY PROPOSES SENDING 250 MORE SPECIAL FORCES TO SYRIAN KURDISTAN