Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 27, 2016

Daily Beast: U.S. Troops 18 Miles from ISIS Capital

U.S. Special Forces soldiers have been seen and photographed on the front lines in Syria wearing the patches of Kurdish fighters.

FATISAH, Syria — Ever since U.S. President Barack Obama decided to send 250 more Special Forces to the Syrian battlefield against the so-called Islamic State, they’ve been easy to spot on the front lines in Hasakah, Tisreen Dam, and near Raqqa, the capital of the “caliphate” that’s also called ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh.

In a base close to the town of Ayn al-Issa, U.S. soldiers are not only advising, they are also assisting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) very closely in targeting ISIS positions with mortars and laser guided air strikes.

Now photographs have surfaced of some of the American soldiers wearing the bright red, yellow, and green patches of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) that have proved some of the most committed and effective fighters on the ground against ISIS.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 27, 2016

Photos show U.S. commandos primed for fight in Syria -- USA Today

American Green Berets in Syria are wearing Kurdish militia insignia on their uniforms -- Military Times

Caught on camera: US Special Forces on ISIS frontline in Syria -- RT

Pentagon denies U.S. special forces are fighting ISIS on front lines in Syria -- CNN

US, Kurds to clear path toward Raqqa, with or without Turkey -- AL-Monitor

Russia May Build Pacific Fleet Base on Matua Island in Kurils Chain -- Sputnik

Russia to Reinforce Military on Disputed Kuril Islands -- Newsweek

Russia's defense industry showed 13% production growth in 2015 — deputy PM -- TASS

Russia's emerging naval presence in the Mediterranean -- Al Jazeera

Russia, China to launch first computer-enabled anti-missile exercises -- TASS

China Reportedly Will Send Nuclear-Armed Submarines to Patrol Pacific -- Military.com/FOX News

Chinese ballistic missile submarines should definitely cause concern -- Asia Times

China aims for deeper regional military ties in bid for stability in South China Sea -- South China Morning Post

After sea spat, China pledges deeper defence ties with Indonesia -- Reuters

Pentagon says China aircraft intercept violated 2015 agreement -- Reuters

China says it followed rules in U.S. aircraft intercept -- Reuters

China's Military Cultural Troupes at Risk (Video) -- WSJ

On Target: Test Launch of India's Supersonic BrahMos Missile a Success -- Sputnik

Plans to Create an EU Army "Kept Secret" -- The Telegraph

Danish Committee Scrutinizes F-35 Plan Costs -- Defense News

Stealth Subs 'Absolutely Essential' for US Military -- VOA

DARPA Requests Designs for XS-1 Military Space Plane -- Space.com

US Congress Impose More Oversight on Weapons Sales to Saudis - Lawmakers -- Sputnik

The U.S. Precision Weapons Shortage -- AP

The US is Raiding its Global Bomb Stockpiles to Fight ISIS -- Defense One

Eisenhower Strike Group to Fight ISIS with Cannibalized Parts -- Military.com

US Navy Faces $848 Million Ops & Maintenance Shortfall -- Defense News

High-Tech Railgun Promises New Military Advantage (Video) -- WSJ

Air Force jam-proof reference system ready to support testing -- GPS World

‘Give Surprising New Capabilities to Old Platforms,’ Carter Tells Engineers -- Defense One

Two F/A-18s crash off Outer Banks, aviators suffer only minor injuries -- Virginia Pilot

Why U.S. Fighter Jets Keep Colliding in Midair -- David Axe, Daily Beast

Military Suicides: Most Attempts Come Before Soldiers Ever See Combat -- NBC

Will Women Dodge the Draft? -- Kelley Vlahos, American Conservative