U.S. to send special forces to Syria

President Barack Obama has authorized deploying fewer than 50 U.S. special operations forces to northern Syria – the first time U.S. troops are working openly on the ground in Syria
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A-10 Thunderbolt
Incirlik air base: A-10 ground- attack planes and F-15 fighters sent to support local forces with ground campaign

American commandos to assist rebels as they prepare new military campaign against Islamic State (IS) militants in stronghold of Raqqa
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TURKEY Kobane SYRIA Palmyra Damascus Homs Hama Aleppo Raqqa IS HQ Deir al-Zawr Dera’a Slinfah Latakia Russian air base Tartus Russian naval base LEBANON ISRAEL JORDAN IRAQ Al-Hasakah River Euphrates IRAQ Russian presence
100km 60 miles
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AREAS OF CONTROL (Sep 27)
Regime Rebel Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda affiliated) Hezbollah militant
presence (pro-regime) Islamic State (IS) Kurdish (YPG) Mixed control
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Sources: Institute for the Study of War, wire agencies

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