The Syrian Democratic Forces began its advance toward Raqqa, Syria, on Sunday. “The effort to isolate, and ultimately liberate, Raqqa marks the next step in our coalition campaign plan,” said Defense Secretary Ash Carter in a statement released Sunday afternoon. “As in Mosul, the fight will not be easy and there is hard work ahead, but it is necessary to end the fiction of ISIL’s caliphate and disrupt the group’s ability to carry out terror attacks against the United States, our allies, and our partners.” Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said on Monday the SDF had “encountered resistance” so far, but they continue to receive support from coalition airstrikes. Cook said ISIS is under pressure and finding it “harder to move between its territory.” He declined to discuss details of US support, but said US forces continue to “provide the advise and assist mission.” He reiterated that the Syrian campaign will look different than the fight to retake Mosul, Iraq, because the United States does not have any “formal government forces or conventional military operating in Syria.”
Air Force Global Strike Command tested an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in the early hours of Nov. 5, the service announced. The tests, which have been carried out at regular intervals for decades, came as Russian President Vladimir Putin has touted the development of two new nuclear weapons…
