In a series of statements Thursday, the State Department welcomed a recent meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. Department officials said the U.S. and its allies are reaffirming their commitment to defeating Islamic terror in the Middle East and beyond.
Turkey’s president is claiming the Trump administration failed to keep its promise to remove Kurdish YPG militia from the border between Syria and Turkey. Just before boarding a plane to Washington Tuesday, Tayipp Erdogan said he plans on bringing the issue to President Trump during their talks this week.
The Trump administration recently gave an update on the current status of U.S. military actions in Syria. On Sunday, the chairman of joint chiefs of staff said less than 1,000 U.S. troops will remain in Syria to keep the pressure on ISIS.
The Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff is saying less than one thousand U.S. troops will remain in Syria to keep the pressure on ISIS. During a Sunday interview, General Mark Milley estimated about 500 to 600 troops are expected to stay in Syria, but did not confirm any other specifics.
The president’s National Security Adviser is saying Turkey’s purchase of Russian missiles will be addressed when President Tayyip Erdogan visits the White House this week. O’Brien also announced that the U.S. will continue to stand up to China in the South China Sea despite a possible trade deal.
The Kurdish forces in Syria have accused Turkey of using prohibited weapons in the war-torn country. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said Wednesday that Turkey used internationally banned chemical weapons on at least 30 civilians in Syria.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is urging Iran to draw back its nuclear activities. While speaking in Budapest Monday, Maas said the Ayatollah regime must go back to complying with the 2015 nuclear deal and engage in talks with world powers to resolve disagreements.
A car bomb exploded in a Syrian border town on Saturday, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens of others. Turkey’s Defense Ministry said the explosion occurred in the town of Tel Abyad, killing both soldiers and civilians.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently praised President Trump by saying he is the “best American president.” In an interview Thursday, Assad said although he considers Donald Trump to be a foe, he appreciates his transparency.