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.
Fears of mass killings as IS advances in Syria's on government-held areas of Deir Ezzor - AFP [2]
Syrian soldiers battle in last stand against ISIS at Deir Ezzor - Lima Charlie News [3]
High-ranking Syrian general arrives in Deir Ezzor - almasdarnews.com [6]
VIDEO: War reports from Deir ez-Zor - YouTube [7]
PHOTOS: ISIS Attacks Syrian army at power plant near Deir ez-Zor - Heavy.com [8]
U.S. officials say sizable Arab force identified for Raqqa campaign - WSJ [11]
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces repel aggressive ISIS attack west of Raqqa - Rudaw [12]
Syrian Kurdish PYD to open representative office in Washington - Kurdpress News Aganecy [13]
Syrian Kurds make precondition for talking with Assad government - kurdpress.com [14]
U.S. carries out strikes near Syria's al-Bab after Turkish criticism - Reuters [15]
Russia says teams up with Turkey for first time to bomb ISIS militants in al Bab - Reuters [16]
Islamist Syrian rebel group says it won't attend peace talks in Kazakhstan - Reuters [17]
Pentagon readies more aggressive ISIS proposals for Trump - CNNPolitics.com [18]
Nation’s top general says he has ISIS war options ready for Trump - Foreign Policy [19]
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Iraq has retaken east Mosul from Isis, says army general - The Guardian [21]
Iraqi forces preparing to capture west Mosul, say it will be easier - UPI.com [22]
Iraqi forces say IS destroyed historic Tomb of Jonah in Mosul - VOA [23]
VIDEO: The ruined shrine of Prophet Jonah in Mosul - kurdistan24.net [24]
How the U.S. military sees the anti-ISIS fight, A dispatch from Iraq - The Atlantic [25]
Islamic State lost almost a quarter of its territory in 2016, IHS Markit says - Yahoo News [26]
To contact Bartolo email peaceloverblog[at]yahoo[dot]com (replacing [at] with @, [dot] with .)