Military Times: Syria's Euphrates valley is becoming a minefield where the risks of a wider war grow daily
WASHINGTON — Bolstered by coalition air-power, Kurdish forces in Syria have entered the second week of fighting to seize the city of Raqqa, where nearly 2,000 ISIS fighters are battling to maintain control of their de facto capital in a bloody street-by-street battle.
The fighting has slowed down inside of Raqqa, where just a week ago Kurdish fighters advanced rapidly to reach the historic walls of the Old City, a fortified area built in the eighth century by the Abbasid Caliphate.
But as that battle rages on, Syrian regime forces supported by Iranian militias have penetrated east, just south of Tabqa city, toward one of ISIS’ last bastions, the city of Deir ez-Zor and the small collection of Sunni majority villages along the Euphrates river.
As ISIS rapidly loses territory, the U.S. and its partner forces in the region have come into increasing conflict with Syrian regime and Iranian-backed militias in a competition to control the strategically important Euphrates River Valley.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 20, 2017
US signals involvement in Syria could escalate -- The Hill
Dunford: Communication with Russia still open after Syria shootdown -- Defense News
Spicer to Russia: 'We will always preserve the right of self-defense' -- Washington Examiner
Tensions rise as Russia, Iran send warnings after US shoots down Syrian warplane -- Military Times/AP
The US is edging ever closer to fighting ISIS, Assad, and his backers — all at the same time -- Christopher Woody, Business Insider
Syria conflict: Australia suspends anti-IS raids -- BBC
Russia’s new military transport plane to perform its debut flight in 2018 -- TASS
Kalashnikov gunmaker launches new noiseless drone into serial production -- TASS
A longtime US ally may soon be home to a Chinese military base -- NBC
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines launch joint operations in Sulu Sea to tackle terrorism, transnational crimes -- Straits Times
India kick-starts military satellite programs -- Defense News
Lockheed Martin agrees to build F-16 fighter jets in India -- Dawn/AFP
Kim Jong Un Fears Assassination By Western 'Decapitation' Team: Report -- Military.com/FOX News
South Korea military to conduct joint drill with U.S. B-1B bombers on Tuesday -- Reuters
Cuban military reaches deep into economy -- 7 News
EU agrees to joint sanctions on cyberattacks -- DW
NATO Holds Military Maneuvers In Poland, Near Lithuanian Border -- RFE
‘European army is inevitable’ – German defense commissioner -- RT
US Air Force, Lockheed aim to prove F-35 critics wrong in demo at Paris Air Show -- Defense News
Pilots Say F-35 Superior Within Visual Range: Dogfight Criticisms Laid To Rest -- Breaking Defense
Five Signs the F-35 Fighter Is a Smashing Success -- Loren Thompson, RCD
Lockheed grows closer to F-35 block buy deal with US, international customers -- Defense News
Luke Air Force Base to resume F-35 flight ops after oxygen deprivation incidents -- Air Force Times
Hypoxia Worries ‘Top Issue’ For Boeing Defense CEO; Cobham Tech Unveiled -- Breaking Defense
Navy Finds $500 Million for a Second Littoral Combat Ship in ’18 -- Bloomberg
Navy Builds 3rd America-Class Amphib - Return of the Well Deck & Future Amphibious Assault -- Scout Warrior
Future US aircraft carrier cost estimate unreliable, says government accountability agency -- Defense News
Coast Guard Commissions Second Alaska Cutter -- AP
The U.S. Army Wants a More Powerful Rifle -- Matthew Moss, War Is Boring
Witnesses describe Jordan shooting that killed 3 US troops -- Army Times/AP
Navy commander first to face military charges in 'Fat Leonard' scandal -- San Diego Union Tribune
Air Force: As many as 135 patients may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis at Al Udeid clinic -- Air Force Times
Secretary Mattis, Please Don't Leave Your Job -- A.B. Stoddard. RCP
What has the US Air Force done for our country? -- Keith Zuegel and Peter Huessy, Defense News
Why the Military Released GPS to the Public -- Popular Mechanics
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