• Chelsea Manning issued a statement before her release from prison next week. [Link]

• A new report claims that 23,000 homicides occurred in Mexico in 2016. [Link]

• On the Scott Horton Show, Conn Hallinan makes the case that the US is moving towards first strike potential. [Link]

• The US has been secretly training two Syrian rebel groups in South Syria. The training is occurring on the battlefield and in a camp near the border with Iraq. The rebel groups have received air support, training, and weapons from the US. These rebel groups are helping to take Deir Ezzor from ISIS. [Link]

• The UN Secretary General warns the attack that killed four UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic may constitute war crimes. [Link]

• The UAE is using American made plans to support the Russia-backed government in Libya. The Russian-backed Libyan government is fighting against the US-backed Libyan government. [Link]

• Turkey condemns the US arming of Kurdish YPG fighters. [Link]

• A US airstrike killed 11 civilians in Northern Syria. [Link]

• The YPG announced the capture of Tabqa from ISIS. The YPG also captured the Tabqa dam from ISIS. [Link]

Check out the new episode of my podcast Foreign Policy Focus. On FPF #38, I discuss the trend of US soldiers moving towards the front lines. Obama and Trump moved US soldiers towards the front lines in Iraq and Syria. Now the Pentagon is looking to move US troops closer to the front lines in Afghanistan and Somalia. I examine the past and future outcomes of this policy. I also update South Korea, Yemen, Somalia, and Turkey. LISTEN HERE!!