Nov 13 U.S. ‘reasonably certain’ Jihadi John is dead By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — A U.S. drone strike targeted a vehicle in Syria believed to be transporting the masked Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John," according to American officials. Whether the strike killed the British man who appears in several videos… Continue reading
Nov 12 Kerry: Islamic State militants ‘embodiment of evil in our time’ By Larisa Epatko Secretary of State John Kerry described on Thursday the United States' gradual effort to build coalitions and transition out Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Kerry said Assad’s intractable civil war gave rise to the Islamic State group, which he called the… Continue reading
Nov 08 Watch 4:20 U.S.-led air campaign in Syria intensifies after shift in ISIS strategy By PBS News Hour Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Sunday more American ground troops could be sent to Syria in the future to contribute to the U.S.-led coalition that has carried out nearly 3,000 airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria. New York Times… Continue watching
Nov 08 Congress dodging war powers despite U.S. mission in Syria By Deb Riechmann, Associated Press In the fight against the Islamic State group, members of Congress talk tough against extremism, but many want to run for cover when it comes to voting on new war powers to fight the militants, preferring to let the president… Continue reading
Nov 06 WATCH: The film that captures the heart of Damascus before the war By Corinne Segal Syrian filmmaker Waref Abu Quba shot his short film “In Damascus” in 2011, shortly before civil war erupted in his country. Continue reading
Nov 05 Americans souring on Obama’s Islamic State plan, poll finds By Josh Lederman, Emily Swanson, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Americans are souring on President Barack Obama's approach to fighting the Islamic State, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll that also found deep pessimism about U.S. prospects for success in Afghanistan and uncertainty about Obama's plan to leave… Continue reading
Nov 04 U.S. diplomats: Russian strikes have not halted Islamic State By Deb Riechmann, Associated Press Two top U.S. diplomats said Wednesday that 85 to 90 percent of Russian air strikes in Syria have killed moderate opposition forces and civilians and that Moscow's intervention has done little to stop Islamic State militants. Continue reading
Nov 03 Obama says special forces in Syria do not break ‘no boots on ground’ promise By Josh Lederman, Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. — President Barack Obama says the U.S. is not putting its troops on the front lines in Syria to fight the Islamic State, despite his decision to deploy special operations troops on the ground. Continue reading
Oct 31 With Syria deployment, Obama crosses own red line By Julie Pace, Associated Press Even as President Barack Obama sent U.S. troops back to Iraq and ordered the military to stay in Afghanistan, he insisted Syria would remain off limits for American ground forces. Now the president has crossed his own red line. Continue reading
Oct 31 U.S. troops in Syria will only fight Islamic State, Kerry says By Bradley Klapper, Associated Press U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says American special operations troops being sent to Syria will only fight Islamic State militants and won't become involved in the long-running civil war. Continue reading