- US, Iraq prepare for grinding insurgency as ISIS loosens grip
- Thornberry: New authorities in Afghanistan helping
The force of about 10,000 men is a small bright spot in an otherwise lackluster legacy of American efforts to rebuild Iraq’s military in the 13 years since the invasion. U.S. officials say it is their most reliable partner in fighting the Islamic State on the ground, while the Iraqi army struggles with corruption and mismanagement. – Washington Post
Middle East experts say that as the Islamic State is defeated in Iraq and Syria, the fight for a stable political future in the region is just beginning. – Washington Times
After two years of heavy casualties, the Afghan military is trying to retake the initiative in the war against militants with a new offensive against Islamic State group loyalists, an assault that will see American troops back on the battlefield working more closely with Afghan soldiers – Associated Press