U.S. Special Forces to Aid Turkish Troops in Syria by Gordon Lubold, Adam Entous and Dion Nissenbaum, Wall Street Journal
The U.S. has sent about 40 special-operations troops to work with Turkish forces on clearing out a stretch of the border region in northern Syria still occupied by Islamic State, U.S. officials said.
It is the first time American special-operations forces have worked jointly with the Turkish military inside Syria, a deployment U.S. officials view as a way to strengthen the relationship with a key ally in the fight against Islamic State. The action also comes as a show of support two months after a failed coup rattled the Turkish army and opened new strains in relations with the U.S.
The deployment is unlikely to ease pressure points between Ankara and Washington. The U.S. continues to support Kurdish fighters in Syria, even though Turkey sees them as terrorists, and the two governments are sparring over the fate of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, wanted by Turkey for suspected involvement in the July coup attempt.
The joint mission began Thursday night in the area near al-Rai along the border, the U.S. officials said…
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U.S. Special Operations Forces Arrive in Syria to Advise Turks in ISIS Fight - New York Times
U.S. Special Operations Forces Begin New Role Alongside Turkish Troops in Syria - Washington Post