USA

Intel: Democrats advance legislation to restrict Trump’s Middle East war powers

House Democrats advanced three provisions today that would broadly curtail President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct offensive military action across the Middle East — and the world — should they become law as part of the annual defense spending bill.

Bryant Harris | Trump | Jul 14, 2020

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., speaks during the "No War With Iran" Rally for Moveon.org at the US Capitol on Jan. 9, 2020, in Washington. Photo by (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for MoveOn.org).

Intel: Trump, Erdogan chat as Libya heats up

US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan chatted by phone today as regional tensions threaten to escalate the already volatile situation in Libya.

Bryant Harris | Libya conflict | Jul 14, 2020

CENTCOM: No sign of coronavirus in Syria’s IS prisons as riots raise concern

Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, the top commander of American forces in the Middle East, said today that his command is concerned about recurring uprisings in prisons holding thousands of Islamic State detainees in northeast Syria.

Al-Monitor Staff | Coronavirus | Jul 14, 2020

Intel: US CENTCOM commander meets with head of Syria’s Kurdish forces

The head of Syria’s Kurdish-led militias said he met today with the top commander of US forces in the Middle East, Gen. Frank McKenzie, in northeast Syria.

Jared Szuba | Syria Conflict | Jul 10, 2020

Intel: CENTCOM commander says Soleimani strike won’t deter Iran forever

The top commander of US military forces in the Middle East says he believes the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani has only temporarily deterred Iran from pursuing its goal of pushing US troops out of the region.

Jared Szuba | Iran-US tensions | Jul 10, 2020