Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
Lithuanian military and its NATO allies, trained to fight together in urban conflict scenarios.
June 10, 2016
Menbij, Syria
Video Shows Arab and Kurdish fighters holding positions on the western frontline overlooking ISIS-held Manbij, a border city northwest of Raqqa, the defacto capital of ISIS.
The fighters were able to seize control over strategic al-Etihad university, previously an ISIS base.
Supported by U.S.-led air strikes and American Special Forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces have launched an offensive to retake ISIS-controlled Raqqa.
Arrad, Field Commander: “Today we were able to retake al-Etihad University, and cut the road between Aleppo and Menbij. We have also seized control over villages around Menbij from four sides and now we are waiting for the Zero hour to enter Menbij.”
No name given, Field Commander:
“We are now near al-Etihad university, 4 to 5 km east of Menjib. Menbij is besieged from all sides, our forces are besieging from north, east, and south, and we are here on the western side. Our forces reached the Osajli road. The situation is great thanks God, we were able to kill scores from ISIS and we are waiting for the Zero hour to enter Menbij.”
May 29, 2016
Raqqa, Syria
Photos show foreign fighters, identified by the Kurdish YPG as American volunteers, on ground in Ain Issa, northern Raqqa.
The three fighters who's nicknames are Andog, Brosk and Tekosher, refused to speak on camera.
Kurdish-Arabic fighters said that US special forces are helping a major offensive against the Islamic State group in its stronghold of Raqqa province.
'American volunteer fighters', Brosk (left) and Tekosher (right)
'American volunteer fighters', Brosk (left) and Tekosher (right)
'American volunteer fighter', Tekosher inside a YPG tank
'American volunteer fighter', Tekosher on a YPG tank
'American volunteer fighter', Tekosher on a YPG tank
'American volunteer fighter', Tekosher on a YPG tank
'American volunteer fighters', Tekosher (left) and Brosk (right)
'American volunteer fighter', Brosk makes V sign
'American volunteer fighter', Andog points to a YPG badge on his military jacket
'American volunteer fighter', Andog (left) with a Kurdish fighter (right)
القاتلين الامريكيين في حملة تحرير الرقة TEKOSHER و BROSK
'American volunteer fighters', Tekosher (left) and Brosk (right)
May 29, 2016
Raqqa, Syria
Video shows foreign fighters, identified by the Kurdish YPG as American volunteers, on ground in Ain Issa, northern Raqqa.
The three fighters who's nicknames are Andog, Brosk and Tekosher, refused to speak on camera.
Kurdish-Arabic fighters said that US special forces are helping a major offensive against the Islamic State group in its stronghold of Raqqa province.
00:07
Tekosher (to the Left with a hat)
Brosk (Center)
Andog (Right)
YPG military vehicles
Senior delegations representing Thailand and the United States met on December 17, 2015 in Bangkok. Permanent Secretary Apichart Chinwanno led the Thailand delegation, and Assistant Secretary of State for EastAsian Daniel Russel led the US delegation.
As long-time treaty allies, the United States and Thailand reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Recognizing Thailand’s regional leadership role and the United States’ vital contributions to peace and stability, the two sides engaged in a comprehensive discussion of issues within Southeast Asia and across the broader Asia-Pacific region.
The United States reaffirmed its support for ASEAN centrality in the Asia-Pacific regional architecture. The two sides discussed ways to enhance their cooperation in regional frameworks, including the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership, with a view to tackling common challenges as well as contributing to greater stability and prosperity of the region. Both sides recognized Thailand’s active engagement in the LMI and look forward to enhancing cooperation under the framework in the areas of education, energy, public health, science and technology, innovation, and women’s empowerment. The two delegations underscored the importance of coordinating assistance in the region and of supporting Lao People’s Democratic Republic 2016 ASEAN Chairmanship. The U.S. delegation noted that President Barack Obama looks forward to hosting leaders from all ten ASEAN nations, including Thailand, at the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit early next year.
The two sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability, ensuring maritime security and safety, and freedom of navigation, including in and over-flight above the South China Sea. The delegations noted the need to avoid the militarization of the disputed areas. The two sides also reaffirmed their support for on-going efforts by ASEAN and China to fully and effectively implement the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and to work toward the expeditious conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct (COC).
On bilateral issues, both sides affirmed their enduring treaty alliance and the strategic importance of their relations. The two delegations discussed ways to further strengthen and expand areas of cooperation, including public health workforce development, medical research, creative economy, prevention and suppression of trafficking in persons and forced labor, law enforcement cooperation, and training through the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA), as well as trade and investment.
The two sides reaffirmed the value of Thailand-U.S. defense cooperation and look forward to continuing to implement the 2012 Joint Vision Statement by strengthening cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, global peacekeeping, and military medical research, among other defense engagements. The United States welcomed Thailand’s pledge at President Obama’s September 2015 Peacekeeping Summit to contribute civil development, engineering, and medical teams to future United Nations peacekeeping missions, and looks forward to continuing to work with Thailand as feasible on capacity building and training of peacekeepers from regional countries through Thailand’s Peacekeeping Operation Centre. The two sides also look forward to resuming their Defense Strategic Talks at the earliest opportunity.
Furthermore, the two sides also identified practical ways to expand their comprehensive partnership to benefit their respective countries, the region, and beyond. In particular, Thailand and the United States agreed to hold the first Joint Commission Meeting under their bilateral Science and Technology Agreement in Thailand in the first half of 2016. The two countries look forward to expanding trade and investment ties and agreed to hold the next round of talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) as soon as possible in 2016. The United States recognized Thailand’s leadership in the area of public health. Both sides are committed to working together to detect, prevent, and respond to infectious disease threats and address public health challenges through both bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. The two delegations noted that a five-year plan is being developed to achieve the targets of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). They also agreed to explore the possibility of establishing a bilateral public health coordination mechanism.
The two governments recognized the importance of education and people-to-people connectivity. In line with President Obama’s priorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, the two sides discussed future bilateral cooperation and the co-organization of a regional STEM workshop in 2016. The two governments pledged their recommitment to the Thailand-U.S. Creative Partnership, launched at the 2010 U.S.-Thailand Strategic Dialogue, which identifies new opportunities for collaborative ingenuity between the two countries.
Recognizing Thailand’s efforts and contributions in addressing global challenges, the two sides also discussed enhanced cooperation on climate change; disease prevention and control; irregular migration and human trafficking; humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; peacekeeping; and counterterrorism. The two sides welcomed the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit.
The delegations discussed current political developments in Thailand and the country’s commitment to implementing comprehensive reforms and a return to sustainable democracy. Both sides also affirmed the importance of promoting universal human rights and humanitarian cooperation.
Looking forward, the two sides welcomed continued robust, candid exchanges on these and other issues and a continued exchange of visits in the future. The two sides agreed to hold the Sixth U.S.-Thailand Strategic Dialogue in the United States in 2016.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, Thailand: Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, Thailand: Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcoming to Mr. Daniel R. Russel, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, Thailand: Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Mr. Daniel R. Russel, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, Thailand: Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Mr. Daniel R. Russel, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok, Thailand: Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Mr. Daniel R. Russel, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia.