Middle East • Page 282 of 293 • The Defense Post

Nov- 2017 -

27 November

1

US reviewing military support provided to SDF – Pentagon

The U.S. Department of Defense is reviewing military support provided to the Syrian Democratic Forces, including "Kurdish elements of the SDF"

27 November

F-22 Raptor taxis before takeoff in new Aghanistan offensive

Michael Hughes

2

US aerial war on drugs in Afghanistan fraught with risks

Using US air power to counter drug trafficking in Afghanistan may jeopardize the broader mission by misallocating resources and boosting the civilian death toll

21 November

Syrian President Bashar Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia

Joanne Stocker

3

Russia, Iran and Turkey agree to greater cooperation in Syria ahead of Sochi summit

Russian, Syrian, Iranian and Turkish officials held a summit in Sochi to discuss steps to end the civil war in Syria, with the chiefs of staff agreeing on greater cooperation.

20 November

Fergus Kelly

8

US F-22s strike Taliban drug labs as new Afghanistan campaign begins

F-22 stealth fighters were used in Afghanistan for the first time as the new U.S.-led Operation Jagged Knife targeting Taliban funding was launched

20 November

Riyad Hijab, head Syria opposition High Negotiation Committee

Fergus Kelly

3

Resignations from Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee ahead of crucial talks

Several members of the Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee, including HNC head Riad Hijab, have resigned ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia and Geneva

20 November

Fergus Kelly

4

180 Syrian fighters demobilized from Coalition VSO partner force near Tanf, kept US-supplied M-16s

Around 180 fighters were recently demobilized from Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra, the U.S.-led Coalition partner force at At Tanf in southern Syria

19 November

Fergus Kelly

3

Coalition and VSO partner forces defeat ISIS attack near At Tanf deconfliction zone

Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra and Coalition forces engaged and defeated an attempted ISIS attack in the de-confliction zone near At Tanf on November 16

17 November

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey

Fergus Kelly

5

Erdogan says Turkey must “cleanse” mainly Kurdish PYD and YPG from Syria’s Efrin

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the mainly Kurdish Efrin canton must be cleansed of the PYD and YPG, speaking ahead of planned multilateral meetings on Syria next week

17 November