Defence Secretary Mark Esper arrived in Baghdad today amidst reports that the US may want to increase the number of troops based in Iraq at least temporarily.
Esper said that under the current plan, all US troops leaving Syria will go to western Iraq and the military would continue to conduct operations against the Islamic State group to prevent its resurgence in the region.
Russia and Turkey reached an agreement yesterday to share control of Syria's northeast that requires Kurdish fighters to clear the entire length of the Syria-Turkey border.
The agreement gives Kurdish fighters another 150 hours beginning this afternoon to clear all remaining areas alongside the 440-kilometer Turkey-Syria border. (AIR NEWS)