U.S.-Led Coalition, Pro-Regime Forces Clash in Eastern Syria

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. February 8, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA U.S.-Led Coalition, Pro-Regime Forces Clash in Eastern Syria Dozens of people were killed in bombings by the U.S.-led coalition in Syria (AP) after Syrian government forces attacked troops from the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor. The U.S.-led coalition said in a statement that the air strikes were carried out in response to what it called an "unprovoked attack" by pro-regime forces (BBC) on a well-known SDF base where coalition advisors were present. It estimated the strikes killed a hundred pro-government forces, which would be the highest number of such casualties inflicted by the coalition. Syrian state media said government forces were fighting Islamic State militants in the area (CNN) and that the international coalition targeted them in an "attempt to support terrorism." ANALYSIS "The U.S. has successfully slithered its way into Syria and established a permanent military presence in a changing and often vacuous battlefield," Samer Abboud writes for Middle East Eye. "Much like Lebanon's civil war, a nasty internecine conflict with countless casualties that lasted fifteen years, the situation in Syria today is further complicated by a dizzying array of actors pursuing divergent interests in partnership with competing groups," says Mara Karlin in testimony to a U.S. House foreign affairs subcommittee (PDF). "By seeking to stabilize Syria's northeast, the U.S. is going some way towards minimizing the risk of an ISIS comeback. However, in doing so through the SDF, we continue to enrage nearly every other actor involved in Syria," Charles Lister and William F. Wechsler write for Politico. PACIFIC RIM South Korea's Moon to Meet Kim Yo-jong President Moon Jae-in will hold talks with Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, this weekend when she visits the South for the Winter Olympics (Korea Times). Moon will also meet with the North's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam. Jonathan Grix discusses the mixed record on sports diplomacy in this CFR interview. PHILIPPINES: The International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary probe into possible crimes (NYT) by President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippine authorities during the administration's crackdown on drugs, a presidential spokesperson said. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA U.S. Shifts Military Resources to Afghanistan U.S. Central Command has begun transferring combat and surveillance aircraft (RFE/RL) from Iraq and Syria to Afghanistan as the fight against the self-proclaimed Islamic State in the Middle East winds down, a top U.S. Air Force general said. This CFR Timeline looks at the United States' sixteen years at war in Afghanistan. BANGLADESH: Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has received a five-year jail sentence (Al Jazeera) on charges she and other party officials embezzled funds meant for an orphanage trust. The verdict could keep Zia from running in a general election this year (BBC). MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Iran Urges Turkey to End Operation in Syria President Hassan Rouhani has called on Turkey to end its military offensive against Kurdish militias (VOA) in northern Syria "at the earliest time." The statement follows a deadly clash between Iran-backed militias in Syria and Turkish forces earlier this week. In the Atlantic, CFR's Steven A. Cook discusses why Turkey is attacking Syria's Afrin. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Hundreds of Child Soldiers Released in South Sudan Armed groups have released 87 girls and 224 boys (AP) in the second-largest liberation of child soldiers in South Sudan since civil war began four years ago. A total of seven hundred child soldiers are expected to be released (Sudan Tribune) in a process overseen by the United Nations. GAMBIA: Gambia has rejoined the Commonwealth (BBC), some fifteen years after authoritarian leader Yahya Jammeh withdrew the country from the international organization mainly comprising former British colonies. EUROPE Dutch Judges Refer European Citizenship Case to Top Court An Amsterdam court has asked the European Court of Justice to rule on whether British expatriates living in the Netherlands will retain the rights of EU citizens (DW) after the United Kingdom exits the European Union. GERMANY: The International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian aid group, and the tech firm Intel have announced a $1 million job-training program to help at least a thousand migrants in Germany (VOA) prepare for jobs in "in-demand" sectors of the economy. AMERICAS Venezuela Sets Presidential Election Date The electoral commission has announced it will hold presidential elections on April 22 (FT) after talks with the opposition in the Dominican Republic broke down just hours earlier. President Nicolas Maduro is seeking a second term in the election, which several Latin American nations have said they will not recognize. CANADA: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on a four-day speaking tour in the United States (AP) that includes stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. UNITED STATES Budget Vote Expected as Second Shutdown Looms A federal budget deal by bipartisan leaders in the Senate is expected to face challenges in the House of Representatives (BBC) ahead of a midnight deadline on Thursday, when a stop-gap deal made last month expires. The bill would increase spending on the military and domestic programs (VOA) by $300 billion over two years. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, in Jamaica on the final stop of a Latin American tour, said the United States is considering imposing restrictions on Venezuela's oil industry (VOA) and that President Trump would make the final decision on such a move.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: February 08, 2018 at 11:04PM