Global defense news, analysis and opinion

US may leave troops to protect eastern Syria oil fields, Esper says

Some US forces could remain in eastern Syria to secure oil fields controlled by the SDF, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said

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Iran slams Turkish plan for northeast Syria military bases

Iran denounced as "unacceptable" any move by Turkey to establish military bases in northeast Syria, saying such a step would face opposition

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ISWAP fighters kill Nigeria troops in clashes near Jakana

At least four Nigerian soldiers and a militia fighter were killed in clashes with Islamic State West Africa Province fighters near Jakana in Borno state

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SDF forces withdraw from Ras al-Ayn on Syria-Turkey border

SDF fighters have left Ras al-Ayn following two days of evacuations of wounded civilians from the border city, Redur Xelil said

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UN report documents highest Afghan civilian casualties in a single month since records began

An “unprecedented” number of civilians were killed or injured in Afghanistan between July and September this year, the United Nations said in a new report released on Thursday, October 17, calling the violence “totally unacceptable.” The quarterly report, which also charts violence throughout 2019 so far, underscores how “Afghans have been exposed to extreme levels of violence for many years” despite promises by all sides to “prevent and mitigate harm to civilians.” The figures – 1,174 deaths and 3,139 injured from July 1 until September 30 – represent the largest number of civilian casualties the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has recorded in a single quarter since it began systematically documenting civilian casualties in 2009, and a 42% increase over the same period last year. July also saw the most civilians killed and injured in a single month since UNAMA records began in 2009. “Civilian casualties are totally unacceptable,” said the U.N.’s special representative in Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, adding they demonstrate the importance of talks leading to a ceasefire and a permanent political settlement. “The impact of Afghanistan’s conflict on civilians is appalling,” said Fiona Frazer, UNAMA’s Human Rights Chief. Afghanistan violence surges in Q3 2019 The U.N. laid …

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OPCW investigates alleged banned weapons use in northern Syria

The OPCW is investigating allegations that chemical weapons have been used during the Turkey-led incursion into northern Syria

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Details emerge of ISIS families taken by Turkey-backed Syrian rebels from Ain Issa camp

New details about the escape of women connected to ISIS from a camp in northeast Syria suggest they were taken by Turkey-backed rebels who may now be holding them for ransom

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Clashes reported in Ras al-Ayn despite Syria ceasefire announcement

Sporadic clashes and shelling by Turkey-backed forces was reported in the northern Syria border town of Ras al-Ayn despite a five-day ceasefire

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US approves sale to South Korea of 120 AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air-missiles

The US State Department approved the sale to South Korea of 120 AIM-120C-7/C-8 AMRAAM missiles at an estimated cost of $253 million

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Erdogan and Pence announce northeast Syria ‘ceasefire’ deal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US Vice President Mike Pence announced a ceasefire deal in northeast Syria which the SDF will support

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