![This aerial view shows troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces Special Operations and the US-led international coalition, take part in heavy-weaponry military exercises in the countryside of Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria, on March 25, 2022.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/v2/UYCHMQ6GAVBCHHWIW5F3U75RBM.jpg?auth=7ec1325eba4ec176c81dd604be1bbf344513aad468e4e458288c6799a7468b52&width=3502&height=2142)
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![This aerial view shows troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces Special Operations and the US-led international coalition, take part in heavy-weaponry military exercises in the countryside of Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria, on March 25, 2022.](https://www.militarytimes.com/resizer/v2/UYCHMQ6GAVBCHHWIW5F3U75RBM.jpg?auth=7ec1325eba4ec176c81dd604be1bbf344513aad468e4e458288c6799a7468b52&width=3502&height=2142)
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Sweden’s rocky road from neutrality toward NATO membership
New entries must be approved by all NATO members. Sweden was missing a yes from Turkey and Hungary. One down, one to go.
The end of an era: 60,000 strong US-trained SDF partner force crumbles in a week under heavy Turkish assault
The U.S.-trained force has been abandoned by its American partners and is under sustained assault by Turkish forces and their ragtag crew of proxy fighters — some who have reportedly fought under ISIS and al-Qaida banners.
By Shawn Snow
US forces are still conducting ground and air patrols in Syria despite Turkish incursion
SMART news agency said it spoke to the leader of the U.S. commando patrol who told SMART that “their forces will target the Turkish army if it advances inside Syrian territory more than the agreed distance between the United States and Turkey,” according to a translation of the Arabic caption describing the video.
By Shawn Snow
US-backed Syrian forces claim Turkey bombed a commando camp housing coalition-trained counterterrorism forces
Destroying the commando unit could jeopardize anti-ISIS operations and allow ISIS to reemerge and mobilize larger forces on the battlefield.
By Shawn Snow
A look at who’s who in northeast Syria as war fears rise
President Donald Trump’s announcement that U.S. troops in Syria would step aside to make way for a Turkish military operation against U.S.-allied Syrian Kurdish fighters unleashed a torrent of near unanimous criticism and warnings of immediate and long-term negative consequences.
Turkey threatens military operation into Syria against American-backed Kurdish forces
Turkey’s president, in his strongest warning yet, threatened Saturday to launch a military operation into northeastern Syria, where U.S. troops are deployed and have been trying to defuse tensions between Washington’s two allies — Turkey and the Syrian Kurds.
A bipartisan report calls for the US to halt its withdrawal from Syria
Absent U.S. assistance in the region, America risks handing the reins of the country’s future to a resurgent ISIS, al-Qaida offshoots and the maligned interests of Iran, Russia and other actors in the region.
By Shawn Snow
Turkish military move into Syria is high risk
Turkey’s combative president is threatening to launch a military operation in northeastern Syria that is designed to push back U.S.-allied Syrian Kurdish forces — an invasion that carries major risks for a highly combustible region in war-devastated Syria.
Esper: US intends to prevent Turkey invasion into Syria
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday that the U.S. intends to prevent any unilateral invasion by Turkey into northern Syria, saying any such move by the Turks would be unacceptable.
By Lolita C. Baldor, The Associated Press
Turkish, US military officials agree on plan for Syrian town
Turkey’s military said Thursday that Turkish and U.S. officials meeting in Germany have reached an agreement on the Syrian town of Manbij, which has been a source of tension between the NATO allies.
US officials say they’re not conducting ‘presence patrols’ in Manbij, Syria, but new photos show otherwise
Operation Inherent Resolve recently posted pictures of U.S. soldiers near Manbij, Syria, conducting what the captions called “presence patrols.” But after Military Times reached out to U.S. officials, the photos were quickly removed.
By Kyle Rempfer