January, 2019

• 14 January

  Turkey deploys tanks at border with Syria

  The Turkish military deployed tanks and armored vehicles to the border province of Hatay on Jan. 13, as Turkey continues its preparations for a planned military operation in the east of River Euphrates in Syria against ISIL and the YPG, which it sees as the Syrian branch of the PKK.

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• 14 January

  Trump, Erdogan discuss Syria over phone

  In their third phone call to discuss the Syria situation and impending plans for US withdrawal, US president Donald Trump discussed with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday a framework that would protect Syrian Kurds while preserving Turkey’s security.

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• 14 January

  Canada ends NATO deployment for 2018 in Romania

  Canada’s Air Task Force (ATF) has completed its four-month deployment with NATO’s enhanced Air Policing in Romania, according to the Canadian Ministry of National Defense Thursday. ATF-Romania is composed of approximately 135 Canadian Armed Forces personnel and five CF-18 Hornets.

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• 14 January

  Moldova expects support from Romania during its presidency of the Council of the EU

  Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip hopes that Romania within its presidency of the Council of the EU will support the European integration processes of the Eastern Partnership countries, including Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia.

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• 14 January

  Pompeo says US committed to fighting Daesh

  US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought to reassure Iraqi officials on Wednesday that Washington remained committed to fighting the Daesh group, as he tours regional allies troubled by US plans to withdraw from Syria. Pompeo’s unannounced visit comes less than two weeks after President Donald Trump drew criticism for …

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• 14 January

  Iraqi troops seize three Islamic State hideouts in Anbar

  Iraqi security forces seized on Monday three hotbeds of Islamic State group during a security campaign in Anbar province, a security source said. “A security force from al-Jazeera Operations Command, backed by fighters of the Tribal Mobilization Forces, carried out a security campaign in northwestern Anbar, during

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• 14 January

  Iraqi FM meets senior NATO official on developing bilateral relations

  Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed al-Hakim has reiterated his country’s keenness on maintaining relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) over the coming period. The top Iraqi diplomat made the remarks Sunday during a meeting with NATO Assistant Secretary General John Manza at the ministry’s headquarters in Baghdad, …

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• 14 January

  UK Defense Secretary praises Syria's Kurds, wants them included in peace talks

  The United Kingdom owes its gratitude to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who should be included in a long-lasting peace effort in Syria, UK Secretary of State for Defense Gavin Williamson said on Monday.

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• 14 January

  France to loan 1 billion euro to Iraq for reconstruction

  French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian made a statement to reporters after meeting his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed al-Hakim in Baghdad. France has agreed to loan Iraq 1 billion euros to help reconstruction of areas devastated by conflict in recent years, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Monday. Le Drian …

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• 14 January

  US officially begins withdrawal process from Syria

  U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the process of the withdrawal of the American military contingent from Syria has officially begun, as he reported on Twitter. “Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little

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