U.S. Approves $300 Million In Military Aid To Iraq's Peshmerga

A member of the Kurdish Peshmerga pictured in 2015 in Makhmur front, southwest of Erbil. Photo: Rudaw

Newsweek: US Military Set to Make $300 Million Deal to Arm Kurds Fighting ISIS in Iraq

The U.S. Department of State has approved a $295.6 million military contract with Iraq intended to supply local Kurds involved in the battle against the Islamic State group (ISIS).

The State Department told Congress Tuesday that the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency was authorized to sell the nearly $300 million worth of weapons. vehicles and other equipment to Kurdish peshmerga units, Reuters reported Wednesday. The sale cannot be concluded until it is approved by lawmakers. The move comes as Kurdish forces and Shiite Muslim militias, supported by Iran, are preparing a major offensive into the heart of ISIS territory.

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More News On The U.S. Approving $300 Million In Military Aid To Iraq's Peshmerga

US approves $295.6 million military equipment sale to Iraq: Pentagon -- CNBC/Reuters
U.S. State Department approves arms sale for Peshmerga forces -- UPI
US multi-million weapons sale to help Peshmerga wireless communication -- RUDAW
Humvees & howitzers: US approves $300mn sale of military equipment for Iraq’s Kurdish forces -- RT
Government Approves $300 Million Sale Of Guns And Humvees To The Kurds -- Daily Caller

'Kurdish Angelina Jolie' Killed In Battle Against The Islamic State

💜 WE Shall NEVER Forget You 💜
💜Thanks Asia Ramazan Antar 💜@james_anderssen @KeepSmile912 @frisson2com @jrnydoug pic.twitter.com/Kmv7Xzrnas

— ((( Gianluigi ))) (@Gianlui91580067) September 7, 2016

Sputnik: Female Soldier Known as 'Kurdish Angelina Jolie' Killed in Battle Against Daesh

A 22-year-old Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG) fighter, known in the West as the ‘Kurdish Angelina Jolie’ has been killed in a clash with the Daesh terrorist group in the north of Syria.

Asia Ramazan Antar earned her nickname after her photos appeared on social media and went viral, with people around the globe noting her haunting beauty and resemblance to the internationally popular activist and film actor.

Antar, a machine gunner and avowed feminist, fought Daesh extremists beginning at the age of 18, reportedly playing keys roles in several key battles.

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WNU Editor: This conflict is unfortunately killing off the best in Syria and elsewhere.

U.S. Backed Syrian-Kurdish Forces Continue Their Military Offensive Against The Islamic State

Washington Post: Ignoring Turkey, U.S. backs Kurds in drive against ISIS in Syria

BEIRUT — A U.S.-backed force of Kurds and Arabs advanced toward an important Islamic State transit town in Syria on Wednesday, brushing aside Turkish opposition to the involvement of Kurds in operations to recapture the strategically vital area.

U.S. commandos are accompanying the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as they push north toward Manbij, backed by intense U.S. airstrikes, as part of an offensive aimed at recapturing the town in Aleppo province, said Col. Chris Garver, a U.S. military spokesman.

Manbij lies on the main route used by foreign fighters traveling across the Turkish border to join the Islamic State in the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the extremist group’s self-proclaimed caliphate. Capturing Manbij would sever the vital supply route, cut off militant fighters and further squeeze the Islamic State in Raqqa, Garver said.

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More News On U.S. Backed Syrian-Kurdish Forces Continuing Their Military Offensive Against The Islamic State

U.S.-backed fighters advance to cut off Islamic State, win tacit Turkish support -- Reuters
US-backed Syrian forces open new front in fight against IS group -- France 24
US-backed Syrian force targets Isis stronghold on Turkish border -- Financial Times
SDF closes in on ISIL supply route in Syria's Manbij -- Al Jazeera
U.S.-backed Syrian force to reach IS-held town in days: Kurdish source -- Reuters
Kurdish-led forces advance against ISIS in Syria’s Manbij region -- RUDAW
Failed Syrian Strategy Forces Ankara to Accept Kurdish-led Manbij Offensive -- Sputnik
ANALYSIS: From master to observer - how Turkey became irrelevant in Manbij -- Middle East Monitor

U.S. Backed Kurdish-Syrian Fighters Launch A New Offensive Against The Islamic State

Reuters: Exclusive: U.S.-backed Syria forces launch offensive for Manbij pocket - U.S. officials

Thousands of U.S.-backed fighters in Syria are launching an offensive to capture from Islamic State a crucial swathe of northern Syria known as the Manbij pocket following weeks of quiet preparations, U.S. officials disclosed to Reuters.

The operation, which only just started to get underway on Tuesday and could take weeks to complete, aims to choke off Islamic State's access to Syrian territory along the Turkish border that militants have long used as a logistics base for moving foreign fighters back and forth to Europe.

"It's significant in that it's their last remaining funnel" to Europe, a U.S. military official said.

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WNU Editor: The Turks are not happy .... U.S. backs Kurds in drive against ISIS in Syria despite Turkish objections (Washington Post)

More News On U.S. Backed Kurdish-Syrian Fighters Launching A New Offensive Against The Islamic State

Rebel Forces Hit Islamic State in Northern Syria -- WSJ
Syria conflict: US-backed fighters 'advance on IS-held Manbij' -- BBC
U.S.-backed forces open major front in Syria war -- Reuters
US-backed Kurdish fighters open new front against IS in Syria, monitor says -- ABC News Online
US-backed forces launch operation to retake ISIS-held Syrian town near Turkish border -- FOX News
US-backed push begins to retake Syria border pocket from ISIL -- Euronews
US-backed Forces Seize Nine Villages in Syria -- VOA
Syrian opposition wants clarity over attacks by U.S.-backed force -- Reuters
This photo looks a lot like US boots on the ground in Syria -- Global Post

U.S. Backed Forces Begin Offensive Near The Islamic State De-Facto Capital Of Raqqa

VOA: US Allied Forces Launch Operation to Liberate Raqqa

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have launched an operation to capture areas north of Raqqa, the Syrian de-facto capital of Islamic State, with the aim of eventually liberating the city.

The U.S. allied group made the announcement in a video statement posted online Tuesday. “We’re launching this campaign with the help of (U.S.-led) coalition forces in northern Raqqa,” said Rojda Felat, a female Kurdish commander.

A senior SDF commander told VOA his forces are advancing from three different directions. "[Kurdish] YPG tanks and other heavy weaponry have been deployed," he said.

Read more ....

More News On The Offensive To Retake The Syrian City Of Raqqa From The Islamic State

U.S.-backed Syrian alliance launches new attack near Islamic State capital -- Reuters
U.S.-backed fighters begin offensive on edge of ISIS' capital -- AP
Syria conflict: Kurds begin campaign north of IS-held Raqqa -- BBC
U.S.-backed group launches offensive north of ISIS capital in Syria -- CNN
U.S. Allies Announce Offensive to Retake ISIS 'Capital' in Raqqa, Syria -- NBC News
US-backed group launches push to rout ISIS from Syria stronghold -- FOX News
Kurdish-led SDF launches offensive on Syria's Raqqa -- Al Jazeera
Kurdish-Arab forces begin ground offensive to retake Syria's Raqqa from IS -- i24 News

Kurdish Soldiers And American Special Forces Have Conducted A Raid On An Islamic State Base In Iraq Near Hawija

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Rudaw: Kurdish-American commandos raid ISIS base near Hawija

Erbil, Kurdistan Region—Kurdish and American commandos raided an Islamic State (ISIS) base near Hawija Friday night, killing a number of militants and capturing others, Kirkuk police said.

Brigadier Sarhad Qadir of the Kirkuk police told Rudaw that at 11:00 pm Friday night Kurdish commandos backed by American special forces stormed an ISIS court in the town of Riyadh east of Hawija where they killed a number of militants in the ensuing firefight.

Brig. Qadir said some militants were captured in the raid and Hussein Umair Assafi, a commander of the radical group was killed.

He added that more information on the raid is expected to be released by the special operations team.

WNU Editor: Rudaw is the only news agency reporting this raid so far .... I suspect that more information and news will be released in the next few hours. This is the same ISIS base that U.S. Special Forces with Kurdish soldiers conducted a raid in October that resulted in the death of a U.S. serviceman .... First U.S. Soldier Killed On The Ground Against The Islamic State During Iraq Hostage Rescue Operation

Two U.S. Veterans Describe What It Was Like To Fight Alongside The Kurds Against The Islamic State

YPG fighters stand with their weapons in Tel Hamis in the Hasaka countryside of Syria. Reuters

Jeremy Bender, Business Insider: 2 US veterans traveled to Syria to fight alongside the Kurds against ISIS — here's what it was like

As the battle against ISIS continues to rage, the various Kurdish militia groups have proven to be the most effective ground force at stemming the militant tide.

Seeking to turn back the jihadists, a small but growing number of US veterans have traveled to Iraq and Syria to join the fight, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Two US veterans that The Journal identified who fought in Syria and returned are former Army Ranger Bruce Windorski and Marine combat veteran Jamie Lane.

WNU Editor: Bottom line .... it is not what you think.

Kurdish Forces Starting To Panic Over Dwindling Ammo Supplies And Heavy Weapons

Lt. Jamal Derwish, pointing in center, commands the last outpost of Kurdish Peshmerga forces before Islamic-State controlled territory in Dabbis, Kirkuk province in Iraq. Photo: Yaroslav Trofimov/The Wall Street Journal

Business Insider: The Kurds are starting to panic in the war against ISIS

The Kurds desperately need an influx of arms and supplies in order to be able to continue to hold their 600-mile long border against ISIS attacks.

The need for weapons has only increased over the past months as the militant group has effectively plundered Iraqi military bases after overrunning cities, Yaroslav Trofimov reports from Kurdish-controlled areas for The Wall Street Journal.

"Peshmerga ammunition stocks are running low and whatever heavy weapons they have are mostly of Saddam Hussein-era vintage," Trofimov reports, citing Peshmerga commanders.

Update: Kurdish Peshmerga Say They Need Weapons After ISIS Seizes Iraqi Arsenal -- WSJ

WNU Editor: They have proven to be the most capable and motivated fighters against the Islamic State .... but they do not hold sway where it counts .... Washington. My prediction .... the Kurds better start looking for another source of weapons and ammo because the Americans are not going to supply them.

Update: Money seems to be the Kurds biggest problem .... Oil Agreement Central To Iraq's Unity In ISIS Fight May Be Crumbling (Huffington Post).