- Iran, Russia and Turkey plan Syria’s future as Trump seeks exit
From The Cipher Brief: “U.S. officials speaking at the U.S. Institute for Peace in Washington reiterated the U.S. commitment to the military mission against ISIS in Syria. “We are in Syria to defeat ISIS. That is our mission and our mission isn’t over and we are going to complete that mission,” said Brett McGurk, U.S. Special Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.”
- Top commander in Middle Eastemphasizes need to stay in Syria
- CSIS’ Anthony Cordesman: Don't take wrong steps in Syria, Iraq
- SSG’s Matthew RJ Brodsky: Why leaving Syria early would be disaster
BY M.K. BHADRAKUMAR
The US President's remarks about wanting to bring troops home from Syria may have complicated talks on how events should play out in the war-torn state
Speaking at a joint news conference, Erdogan said Turkish troops, which last month took control of the northwestern Kurdish enclave of Afrin, would move eastward into Manbij and other areas controlled by the U.S.-backed Kurdish militia, the Peoples’ Protection Units, or YPG, which Turkey considers to be terrorists. - Associated Press
BY PEPE ESCOBAR
The Russia-led Eurasia Economic Union is spreading its wings and gaining strength, with some key projects, big players and big plans in the pipeline
- Authors Hassan Hassan & Michael Weiss: Is Trump serious about Syria?
- Anticipating Trump’s next move, aides prep Iran deal pullout