U.S.-backed Kurds, Russia-backed Syrians advance on Raqqa in pincer movement

U.S.-backed Kurds, Russia-backed Syrians advance on Raqqa in pincer movement

by WorldTribune Staff, June 5, 2016 A U.S.-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance from the north and Russian-backed Syrian troops from the southwest are set to catch Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in a pincer movement as they advance on the terror group’s stronghold at Raqqa. U.S. military officials said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance […]

Tech wars: Obama took no action to stop advanced Russian arms sales to Iran

Tech wars: Obama took no action to stop advanced Russian arms sales to Iran

Special to WorldTribune.com By Geostrategy-Direct.com Though he could contest the sale of Russia’s advanced S-300 missile system to Iran, U.S. President Barack Obama has not. Analysts see Obama’s hesitancy as another in a long line of capitulations to Iran and at least one congressman has launched an official inquiry into the matter. Administration officials declined […]

Two U.S. soldiers, ‘not on the front lines’ wounded in Iraq, Syria

Two U.S. soldiers, ‘not on the front lines’ wounded in Iraq, Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty The United States says two of its service members were injured over the weekend, one each in Iraq and Syria. Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said on May 31 that the two soldiers “were not on the front lines, they were not engaged in active combat, but […]

Legislation would force Obama to disclose $1.7 billion ‘ransom payment’ to Iran

Legislation would force Obama to disclose $1.7 billion ‘ransom payment’ to Iran

by WorldTribune Staff, June 1, 2016 A bill filed by a pair of Republican lawamkers seeks to force the Obama administration to disclose if a $1.7 billion payment to Iran was “ransom” for the release of 10 U.S. sailors who were captured by the Iranian military. Republican Rep. Mike Pompeo of Kansas and Sen. John […]

U.S. troops ordered to remove Kurdish insignias from uniforms

U.S. troops ordered to remove Kurdish insignias from uniforms

by WorldTribune Staff, May 29, 2016 The Pentagon has ordered U.S. special forces soldiers to stop wearing the insignia patch of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) on their uniforms. Photos of U.S. troops with the insignia patches infuriated Turkey’s increasingly authoritarian president, who views the YPG as a terrorist organization linked to the Kurdish […]

‘I condemn it’: Erdogan blasts U.S. assist to Kurdish offensive in Syria

‘I condemn it’: Erdogan blasts U.S. assist to Kurdish offensive in Syria

by WorldTribune Staff, May 29, 2016 Saying “there is no difference” between Syrian Kurdish forces and Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 29 condemned U.S. assistance in the Kurds’ offensive on ISIL’s Syrian stronghold. “The support they give to… the YPG (militia)… I condemn it,” said Erdogan. […]

U.S. Special Forces embed with Kurdish forces, join fight for capital of ISIL’s caliphate

U.S. Special Forces embed with Kurdish forces, join fight for capital of ISIL’s caliphate

by WorldTribune Staff, May 27, 2016 U.S. special operations forces are “present at all positions along the front” and are assisting a Kurdish-Arab coalition “on the ground and in the air,” in the offensive against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in its de facto Syria capital of Raqqa. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) field […]

Turkey not cool with U.S. forces wearing Kurdish insignia for Raqqa offensive

Turkey not cool with U.S. forces wearing Kurdish insignia for Raqqa offensive

by WorldTribune Staff, May 27, 2016 It is not acceptable for U.S. soldiers to wear the insignia of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) when embedded with the Kurdish fighters, a Turkish official said. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said photos showing U.S. special operations forces wearing the YPG insignia on their shoulders during operations against […]

Israel to use precision capabilities for faster battlefield victories

Israel to use precision capabilities for faster battlefield victories

Special to WorldTribune.com By Geostrategy-Direct Israel’s precision strike and intelligence capabilities will enable quicker victories on the battlefield in future conflicts, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said. [Ya’alon resigned on May 19 after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu moved to replace him with Avigdor Lieberman.] Speaking at the 4th International Fire Conference in Zichron Ya’acov on […]

Afghan intel confirms U.S. drone strike killed Taliban leader

Afghan intel confirms U.S. drone strike killed Taliban leader

by WorldTribune Staff, May 22, 2016 The leader of the Afghan Taliban was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan, Afghanistan intelligence sources have confirmed. The May 21 attack killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the sources said. U.S. officials said the drone strike was authorized by President Barack Obama and “showed the United States was […]