Focus: Islamic State - Jan 18, 2017

Note: The Islamic State has launched an offensive against the besieged Syrian government held areas in Deir Ezzor. The situation is very critical with looming mass killings and starvation. Could this be a test of a new U.S.-Russia military cooperation in the fight against terrorism? Deir Ezzor is strategically important: it is a major Islamic State supply route from Syria to Iraq and it is closed to key oilfields.

Islamic State surrounds government held military airport in Deir ez-Zor, cutting off food supplies for the civilians - The Guardian

Fears of mass killings as IS advances in Syria's on government-held areas of Deir Ezzor - AFP

Syrian soldiers battle in last stand against ISIS at Deir Ezzor - Lima Charlie News

Syrian helicopters land in Deir Ezzor for first time since ISIS offensive, bringing in fresh reinforcements and carrying away injured soldiers - almasdarnews.com

Unprecedented Russian airstrikes as ISIS threatens to take Deir ez-Zor. Encircled Syrian city hangs by a thread - russia-insider.com

High-ranking Syrian general arrives in Deir Ezzor - almasdarnews.com

VIDEO: War reports from Deir ez-Zor - YouTube

PHOTOS: ISIS Attacks Syrian army at power plant near Deir ez-Zor - Heavy.com

Russian media: US gave ISIS escape route from Mosul to Syria; now civilians are paying the price in Deir ez-Zor - RT Op-Edge

U.S. increasing airdrops of supplies to Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces battling ISIS in Syria - militarytimes.com

U.S. officials say sizable Arab force identified for Raqqa campaign - WSJ

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces repel aggressive ISIS attack west of Raqqa - Rudaw

Syrian Kurdish PYD to open representative office in Washington - Kurdpress News Aganecy

Syrian Kurds make precondition for talking with Assad government - kurdpress.com

U.S. carries out strikes near Syria's al-Bab after Turkish criticism - Reuters

Russia says teams up with Turkey for first time to bomb ISIS militants in al Bab - Reuters

Islamist Syrian rebel group says it won't attend peace talks in Kazakhstan - Reuters

Pentagon readies more aggressive ISIS proposals for Trump - CNNPolitics.com

Nation’s top general says he has ISIS war options ready for Trump - Foreign Policy

Gabbard takes secret trip to Syria, in December she introduced legislation to stop the administration from “directly or indirectly” arming terrorists including ISIS and al Qaeda - POLITICO

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Iraq has retaken east Mosul from Isis, says army general - The Guardian

Iraqi forces preparing to capture west Mosul, say it will be easier - UPI.com

Iraqi forces say IS destroyed historic Tomb of Jonah in Mosul - VOA

VIDEO: The ruined shrine of Prophet Jonah in Mosul - kurdistan24.net

How the U.S. military sees the anti-ISIS fight, A dispatch from Iraq - The Atlantic

Islamic State lost almost a quarter of its territory in 2016, IHS Markit says - Yahoo News

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