Oct 20 Kurds begin evacuation from besieged Syrian border town By Mehmet Guzel, Bassem Mroue, Associated Press Kurdish fighters and civilians began evacuating from a besieged Syrian town on Sunday, the first pullback under the U.S.-brokered cease-fire deal, opening the way to a broader withdrawal of the Kurdish-led forces from parts of the Turkish border. Continue reading
Oct 20 Pentagon chief says US troops leaving Syria for western Iraq By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says that under current plans all U.S. troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq and the American military will continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group to prevent its resurgence. Continue reading
Oct 18 Watch 3:46 Fighting abates in northern Syria, but political and humanitarian crises endure By Amna Nawaz The battleground in northeastern Syria appears to be quieting, after a cease-fire between Turkish forces and Kurdish fighters got off to a rocky start. But will Turkey keep its word -- and was the U.S. pullout from the region appropriate?… Continue watching
Oct 18 Watch 14:06 Shields and Brooks on Trump’s Syria ‘blunder,’ impeachment outlook Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week’s political news, including how the impeachment inquiry is affecting President Trump's support among Republicans, fallout from Trump's handling of northern Syria and… Continue watching
Oct 18 Trump says Europe is willing to take IS prisoners in Syria By Zeke Miller, Associated Press At the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said U.S. troops are continuing their withdrawal from northern Syria. Continue reading
Oct 18 Fighting continues in Kurdish-held town in Syria despite cease-fire By Elena Becatoros, Sarah El Deeb, Associated Press A spokesman for the Kurdish-led fighters said they were not withdrawing from Ras al-Ayn because Turkish forces are still besieging and shelling it. Continue reading
Oct 17 Watch 12:50 Turkish ambassador to U.S. disputes that Erdogan agreed to a ‘cease-fire’ Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday about Turkey’s military offensive in northern Syria. They agreed to a five-day pause in the operation, but disagreed about… Continue watching
Oct 17 WATCH: Pence announces cease-fire with Turkey in Syria By Zeke Miller, Associated Press Vice President Mike Pence says there will "a pause in military operations for 120 hours" to allow the U.S.-allied Syrian Kurds to withdraw. Continue reading
Oct 16 Watch 11:59 Syria and impeachment put Trump on defensive as House condemns pullout President Trump on Wednesday dismissed criticism of his withdrawal from northeast Syria and the ensuing Turkish incursion, but a bipartisan vote in the House condemned his action. The fallout comes as another key witness testified in the impeachment inquiry. Amna… Continue watching
Oct 16 Contentious meeting at the White House ends in Dems walking out By Robert Burns, Associated Press After the House condemnation vote, the congressional leaders of both parties went to the White house for a briefing, which grew contentious, with Trump and Pelosi trading jabs. The Democrats said they walked out when the meeting devolved into an… Continue reading