U.S. Military Forces In Syria And The Battle For Raqqa -- News Updates March 9, 2017

The Guardian: Arrival of US troops intensifies struggle for influence in Syria

Move into north of country comes as Turkey, Russia and Syria also stake claims to dictate assault against Isis in Raqqa

US forces have rolled into northern Syria to keep the peace between two allies that have fought each other for a week, further complicating Washington’s battle against Islamic State and underscoring a messy regional struggle for influence across what remains of the ravaged north.

Armoured trucks conspicuously flying large US flags arrived on Tuesday in a cluster of villages west of the town of Manbij, where the Euphrates river has demarcated Kurdish-backed forces to the east, whom Washington supports, and Arab-backed forces directed by Turkey, farther west.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: With today's announcement of even more U.S. troops being deployed to Syria .... U.S. Is Sending 400 More Troops to Syria (NYT) .... this is definitely becoming a major U.S. military deployment. Why now .... I guess this explanation is as good as any other .... US is 'facing a train wreck' as its Turkish and Syrian rebel allies fight over who will lead Raqqa assault (The Telegraph)

Update: I agree .... US military enters Syria in what looks like deal with Russia (Asia Times)

Update #2: Did the U.S. and Russia agree to this ?!?!?! .... U.S. Ambassador to UN: “Get Iran and Their Proxies” out of Syria (The Tower)

Update #3: It looks like the U.S. are in Syria to stay .... US commander signals larger, longer US presence in Syria (AP)

Update #4: With what has been happening today .... I guess the question that I raised yesterday has been

answered .... Did The U.S. Just Invade Syria? (March 8, 2017)

U.S. Military Forces In Syria And The Battle For Raqqa -- News Updates March 9, 2017

Syrian force a 'few weeks' from Raqqa, U.S. Marines deploy -- Reuters
US Marines Deploy to Syria as Agreement on Raqqa Assault Eludes Allies -- VOA
U.S. Is Sending 400 More Troops to Syria -- New York Times
U.S. Sends More Marines to Syria to Fight ISIS -- US News and World Report
U.S. Is Sending About 400 Marines To Syria -- NPR
US deploys 400 more troops for anti-IS group offensive in Syria -- France 24
US marines sent to Syria to help assault on Isis' Raqqa stronghold -- The Independent
U.S. Marines Enter Syria to Aid Fight for ISIS’ Capital Raqqa -- NBC
What the 400 additional US troops in Syria are up to -- ABC News
US force in Syria to help anti-IS fighters with firepower -- AP
McCain: Turkey, Kurdish tensions in Syria a looming 'train wreck' -- The Hill
U.S. trying to avoid a Turkey-Kurdish conflict in Syria, general says -- Reuters
Turkey's Syria plans face setbacks as Kurds see more U.S. support -- Reuters
Purported U.S. airstrikes kill civilians near Raqqa, ISIS' HQ in Syria -- AP
ISIL's Raqqa supply route severed - reports -- Euronews
Syrian Democratic Forces Flush Daesh Out of Menxer Hill Near Raqqa -- Sputnik
Some Daesh Leaders Abandon Syria’s Raqqa Ahead of Upcoming Offensive -- Sputnik