As Syrian fighters push toward the Islamic State’s de-facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter announced Saturday that additional U.S. Special Operations forces will head into the country to help the fledgling offensive. – Washington Post’s Checkpoint
Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and his Russian backers are close to achieving a lasting victory in the Syrian civil war, according to Senate Republicans, despite Secretary of State John Kerry's ongoing effort to negotiate a pause in the fighting. – Washington Examiner
Kurdish intentions to remain in disputed areas of northern Iraq, despite warnings from Baghdad, threaten to spark renewed ethnic conflict once the Islamic State can be defeated, bringing long-standing feuds over land, oil and political power back to the fore. – Washington Post