Reuters: Syrian army deploys to Manbij area after Kurdish calls to deter Turkey
BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army deployed forces near Manbij in northern Syria on Friday, a war monitor and a U.S. official said, after the Kurdish YPG militia urged Damascus to protect the town, where U.S. forces operate, from the threat of a Turkish offensive.
Manbij, which U.S.-backed forces captured from Islamic State in 2016, has emerged as a focal point of new tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. forces whose presence has effectively deterred Turkey.
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MIDDLE EAST
Iranian target near Damascus 'completely destroyed by Israeli strike,' satellite images reveal.
Syrian army enters Kurdish-held town of Manbij. Syria military takes control of flash-point Kurdish-led town. Syria military takes control of key town as Erdoğan warns of 'psychological action'.
UAE reopens Syria embassy for first time in 6 years.
Iraqi lawmakers demand US withdraw its troops after Trump’s surprise visit.
Ex-military chief forms new political party in Israel.
Lebanon protests grow over economic crisis and political impasse.
Saudi 'not in crisis' over Khashoggi affair: new FM to AFP.
Massive haul of heroin seized from fishing boats in Arabian Sea during Australian Navy raids.
ASIA
Pakistan ex-president Zardari faces travel ban over corruption.
Taliban seeks image makeover as Afghan peace talks gain momentum.
Germany worried at possible US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Rebels breach Myanmar ceasefire in army attack: Military.
Chinese reconnaissance plane flies over South Korea, Japan as geopolitical tensions grow.
Suspected Chinese fish poachers fled with Japanese inspectors still on boat.
Thousands in Mongolia brave freezing weather to protest graft.
Ahead of Bangladesh vote, opposition says it faces 'a reign of terror'.
Hacker leaks details of 1,000 North Korean defectors.
AFRICA
Nigeria ruling party launches President Buhari's re-election campaign.
Sudan: 19 killed, over 200 injured in protests.
Burkina Faso: 10 police officers killed in ambush.
Boko Haram launches series of attacks in north-east Nigeria. Boko Haram attacks two military bases in northeast Nigeria. Extremists seize Nigerian town and key military base.
Congo President Joseph Kabila bans voting in opposition stronghold due to potential Ebola 'disaster'.
DRC: Opposition denounces Kinshasa polling stations closure. Election delays in DRC leads to protests.
DR Congo election: EU condemns expulsion of envoy Bart Ouvry.
Eritrea closes border crossings to Ethiopian travelers.
Andry Rajoelina to again become Madagascar's president.
Zimbabwe doctors' strike: patients bare the brunt of protests.
EUROPE
Sajid Javid: Channel migrant crossings 'a major incident'.
New scandal around fired Macron aide troubles France.
Bosnian prosecutors charge 13 with war crimes against Serbs.
Merkel, Macron urge Russia to release Ukrainian sailors.
Russia builds border fence between Crimea and Ukraine proper.
Russia and Britain to start returning diplomats in January: Russian embassy.
Amid recognition row, Kosovo hits Serbia with more customs tariffs.
Rescue boat with 300 migrants reaches Spain.
Archbishop says Pope ready to visit North Korea if Kim sends invitation.
Euro currency remains a work in progress on 20th birthday.
AMERICAS
Another migrant caravan with 15,000 people is set to depart from Honduras next month.
Trump pledges to cut off aid to Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Trump threatens to shut border 'entirely' unless Democrats fund wall.
GOP and Democrats trade blame for shutdown, no deal in sight.
Another, bigger migrant caravan is set to leave from Honduras next month.
US seeks close ties with Brazil’s new leader.
Brazil crackdown military intervention ends Monday.
Scandal involving Brazil president-elect's son clouds inauguration.
Mexico investigates chopper crash that killed politicians, 3 others.
'Reality' bites: Cuba plans more austerity as finances worsen.
TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR
At least 3 dead in Egypt tourist bus bombing near pyramids.
Islamists kill at least 10 in bid to capture northeast Nigerian lake town: residents.
Islamic State woman from Germany charged with war crimes after letting ‘slave’ girl, 5, die of thirst.
Taliban trains scores of ‘commandos’ at camp.
ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS
Wall Street rally pauses, but stocks mint weekly gain.
Britain's Defence Secretary echoes the US with 'grave, very deep concerns' about Huawei.
Oil prices steady near year-and-a-half lows after profit-taking.
Tesla names Oracle’s Ellison to board in SEC settlement.
2018: The year in business - from K-pop to soybeans.
2 comments:
Another Damascus target destroyed.lm guessing that anything high value would be defended by Pantsir which is more useless than titts on a bull by the look of its track record.
There were stories that in the darkest days, Assad was kept prisoner. They figured correctly IMO that if he fled the regime would crumble.
In 2014 the generals fled Mosul, defenses instantly crumbled. If ISIS has has 10 to 1 kill ratio, the government still could have won by sending more troops. Mosul should have a 0 to 10% chance of falling. Instead it was a gimme.
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