Syrian army exploiting territory lost by Islamic State forces

Military forces from the regime of Bashar al-Assad, along with Iranian-sponsored militias, are moving quickly to capture territory abandoned by the Islamic State as they retreat in the face of the U.S.-led coalition’s campaign in Syria, Reuters reports. Syrian rebel commanders reported on the government troop movements Monday, saying Assad forces were moving quickly with […]

Coalition air strike given wrong coordinates, kills 18 allied SDF fighters in Syria

The U.S. Military released a statement on Thursday regarding a coalition air strike that incorrectly targeted friendly forces, resulting in the death of 18 allied soldiers engaged in the fight against ISIS near their capital city of Raqqa. “The Coalition’s deepest condolences go out to the members of the SDF and their families,” CENTCOM said, calling […]

ISIS fighters got inside the wire during a hellish firefight with US Special Ops in Syria

US forces in southern Syria came under attack by Islamic State militants around midnight local time on Saturday, joining with local partner forces to repel the assault in an hours-long fight that required multiple airstrikes and left three US-backed Syrian fighters dead. US special-operations advisers were on the ground near the al-Tanf border crossing when […]

The Syrian war rages on

An article was released on Wednesday, March 15, by the Washington Post stating that the U.S. Military is drawing up plans to expand the presence of American troops in Northern Syria in the weeks ahead, potentially adding up to 1,000 ground troops to the region. According to the Post article, “[w]hile the new contingent of […]

U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces prepared to assault Raqqa with American help

As the multitude of Syrian opposition forces converge for the offensive on Raqqa, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) claim they are prepared to take the ISIS stronghold with the help of their American supporters. The SDF made these statements as conflict between Turkey and the Syrian Kurdish contingent of the SDF continues to grow. Turkey’s […]

The 75th Ranger Regiment hits the ground in Syria for Raqqa offensive

After months of planning and deliberations, the 75th Ranger Regiment has been deployed to Syria to participate in the war against ISIS as the coalition closes in on the so-called caliphate’s capital city of Raqqa.  Yesterday, the first images emerged of Stryker armored vehicles on their way to Manbij.  This comes weeks after Rangers deployed […]

Pentagon plan to seize Raqqa calls for significant increase in U.S. participation

A Pentagon plan for the coming assault on Raqqa, the Islamic State capital in Syria, calls for significant U.S. military participation, including increased Special Operations forces, attack helicopters and artillery, and arms supplies to the main Syrian Kurdish and Arab fighting force on the ground, according to U.S. officials. The military’s favored option among several […]

U.S.-Backed Militia Opens Drive on ISIS Capital in Syria

A joint Kurdish-Arab militia has begun a new phase in the operation to dislodge the Islamic State from its stronghold in Raqqa, Syria, moving to isolate the city and largely cut off the resupply of arms, supplies and fighters, a United States military spokesman in Baghdad confirmed on Sunday. American warplanes are flying bombing missions […]

Turkey fires on U.S.-backed Kurdish guerrillas in Syria offensive

Ankara views the YPG as a threat because of its close links to Kurdish militants waging a three-decade-old insurgency on its own soil. It has been alarmed by the YPG’s gains in northern Syria since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, fearing it could extend Kurdish control along Turkish borders and fuel the ambitions of Kurdish insurgents in Turkey.

Exclusive Syria Update: American and Canadian volunteers fight ISIS in Manbij

Sandwiched between ISIS held and Kurdish held Syria, lays a city under siege.  Manbij is a medium sized city south of Kobani and North West of the ISIS capital city of Raqqa.  While many civilians have already fled the city, thousands more are trapped inside.  With coalition airstrikes backing up the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces […]