(Council on Foreign Relations)- Syria’s civil war has grown ever more complex in the nearly six years since protesters first challenged the government. President Bashar al-Assad aims to reassert control nationwide, while predominantly Sunni Arab opposition forces seek to wrest the state from...

US special forces have led a "successful" operation targeting Islamic State leaders in Syria, the Pentagon has confirmed. Local reports suggest at least four coalition helicopters landed in the desert between the IS-held cities of Deir al Zor and Raqqa. Commandos then set up checkpoints and...

Ships began unloading U.S. tanks, self-propelled howitzers and hundreds of other fighting vehicles Friday in the northern German port of Bremerhaven, to be moved into Eastern Europe to bolster NATO's deterrence against possible Russian aggression. Some 3,500 troops from the 4th Infantry...

U.S.-backed militias in Syria have captured an ancient citadel from Islamic State in a strategically significant advance against the jihadist group in its stronghold of Raqqa province, a spokesman said on Friday. The Jabar citadel on the banks of Lake Assad was captured by the Syrian...