- Trump signs an executive order reversing Obama’s ban on Artic drilling. [Link]
- Trump says the US is losing money providing defense for Saudi Arabia. [Link]
- The ten-member Association of South East Asian Nations issues a statement softening its stance on tensions with China related to the South China Sea. [Link]
- Mali expands the country’s state of emergency for an additional six months. The Mali government continues to fight against Islamist militias. [Link]
- A report revealed through FOIA shows the US has 36 outposts in 24 African countries. [Link]
- The Taliban announce the start of their spring offensive. For the past several years, the Taliban have increased attacks during the spring season. [Link]
- Erdogan threatens to attack US-backed Kurdish forces in Iraq and Syria. [Link]
- Erdogan says he is “seriously saddened” to see US military vehicles operating with YPG forces near the Turkish border. Erdogan views the YPG as a terrorist organization. The US backs the YPG in the fight against ISIS in Syria. [Link]
- Erdogan dismisses 3,900 people from their jobs. 1,200 of those were military personnel. Erdogan also canceled dating shows on Turkish TV and blocked Wikipedia. [Link]
- A US service member has died from wounds caused by an explosive. The service member was a part of the US operation in Mosul. [Link]
- US-backed SDF claims to have made a big gain against ISIS in Tabqa. The mission to take Tabqa is part of the operation to take Raqqa from ISIS. [Link]
- The Pentagon releases a report that claims the US has only killed 350 civilians in its war against ISIS that started in August 2014. International watchdog groups estimate the number to be thousands more. [Link]
- The Syrian government carried out a double tap attack against a White Helmets building. The second bomb to hit the site killed eight rescue workers. [Link]
