this going on as well!!!

On Northern Syria Front Line, U.S. and Turkey Head Into Tense Face-off

A correspondent and a photographer of The New York Times, traveling with American generals in northern Syria, visited a city where armed conflict is now possible between the United States and Turkey.

By Rob Nordland @ NYTimes.com, Feb. 7

MANBIJ, Syria — Two senior American generals came to the front line outside the Syrian city of Manbij on Wednesday flying outsized American flags on their vehicles, in case pro-Turkish forces just the other side of the no man’s land, 20 yards away, did not realize who they were.

“We’re very proud of our positions here, and we want to make sure everybody knows it,” said Maj. Gen. Jamie Jarrard, the Special Operations commander for the American-led coalition in Iraq and Syria.

If the message to Turkey was not clear already, the overall coalition commander accompanying General Jarrard, Lt. Gen. Paul Funk, elaborated. “You hit us, we will respond aggressively. We will defend ourselves.”

The trip was the first by such senior United States military officers to the front in northern Syria since Turkey’s president threatened to attack the city of Manbij, calling it a bastion of terrorists and demanding that American forces leave [....]

I imagine what Mattis thinks having to deal with the parade crap! Damn idiot doesn't get the briefing cartoon books we make for him...

Syria war: US bombs government forces after Deir al-Zour attack

BBC News, 2 hrs. ago

The US has carried out rare air strikes on Syrian pro-government forces after what it called an "unprovoked attack" on allied Kurdish and Arab fighters.

An estimated 100 pro-government fighters were killed in the overnight incident in Deir al-Zour province.

They had allegedly tried to take ground east of the River Euphrates, captured from the Islamic State group by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

State media said the US "aggression" left dozens of people dead or wounded [....]

Friend or foe? Assad quietly aids Syrian Kurds against Turkey

@ Reuters, Feb. 11

ALEPPO, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria’s U.S.-backed Kurds are getting indirect help from an unlikely source in their war against Turkey in the northwestern region of Afrin: President Bashar al-Assad [.....]