America’s longest war – soon approaching its 18th year in Afghanistan – is not over although it may be entering a new phase.

Washington has been very critical of Berlin in the past due to the latter’s failure to meet NATO’s defence spending target, with a shortage of planes also signaling Germany’s inability to meet the required training practice for its pilots.

The United States is planning to expand its military presence in Poland, Vice President Mike Pence says, praising the NATO ally for being among the few members of the Western military alliance who are trying to meet Washington’s spending requirements.

President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that Iran opted for national resistance to the US maximum pressure and active diplomacy and that has not decided to negotiate with the US despite some suggestions from many states.

The People’s Protection Units (YPG) Counter-Terrorist Forces on Sunday captured a so-called Islamic State financial officer during an operation in Syria.

Kurdish forces in northern Syria have arrested a Portuguese extremist from London involved in kidnappings and executions of Western hostages held by ISIS after years on the run.

Government airstrikes and artillery attacks ceased Saturday following a unilateral cease-fire in the northwestern province of Idlib, a Syrian war monitor said. The U.S. military, meanwhile, said it struck an al-Qaida leadership facility north of Idlib, marking the first American strike inside the war-torn country since July .

The Taliban claimed responsibility for an explosion in Kabul late Monday, just hours after a U.S. negotiator shared with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani “key details” of a deal that would see thousands of American troops leaving Afghanistan.

The American military conducted an airstrike against al Qaeda in Syria (AQ-S) “leadership at a facility north of Idlib, Syria” earlier today, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). It is the second time the U.S. has struck al Qaeda operatives in Syria since late June.

Earlier, after a visit to an air show in Russia, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that Turkey may opt to buy Russia’s Su-57 fifth generation fighter, instead of the F-35, after the US kicked Ankara out of the programme earlier this …