US representatives met with leaders of moderate Syrian opposition forces in Istanbul as part of efforts to implement the congressionally approved mission to train and equip these forces, announced US Central Command on Wednesday. Army Maj. Gen. Michael Nagata, director of the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-Syria, along with US Special Envoy for Syria Daniel Rubinstein, led the US delegation for the meetings on Monday and Tuesday. “These meetings provided an important opportunity to introduce and discuss the US train-and-equip program with members of the moderate political and armed opposition and to gain a better understanding of conditions on the ground in Syria,” states CENTCOM’s release. As these meetings were underway, US combat aircraft continued airstrikes in Syria against ISIS forces. US bomber and fighter airplanes destroyed eight fighting positions of ISIS forces, along with one ISIS armored vehicle on those days, announced the Pentagon.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.