- Ecuador’s new president will allow Julian Assange to remain in the country’s embassy in London. [Link]
- The mass data collection of Americans under Obama was more extensive than initially believed. [Link]
- At least 80 civilians have been killed by countries in the US-led coalition to fight ISIS other than the US. The US is responsible for thousands of civilian deaths. The US government is protecting the information about the 80 civilians deaths from becoming public. Many people in US-coalition countries want to know if their country is responsible for civilian deaths. [Link]
- Police in the UK now believe the Manchester terrorist acted alone. Police have arrested 16 people in connection to the May 22nd terrorist attack. However, most of those people have been released without charges. [Link]
- Jonathan Marshall debunks the claim that Russia is arming the Taliban. [Link]
- A suicide bomber in Afghanistan kills at least 80 people in the capital of Kabul. The attack occurred near the German embassy. [Link]
- 10 people were killed by a car bomb in Baghdad. [Link]
- General Mattis said the strategy used to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria has changed to annihilation tactics. [Link]
- The Iraqi government is dropping leaflets over Mosul warning civilians to flee. The Iraqi government initially told civilians to shelter in the city. The Iraqi military plans to operate a scorched earth campaign once the civilians are gone. [Link]
- The US-led coalition is dropping leaflets over Raqqa. The leaflets warn civilians to flee or risk dying in the city. [Link]
- The US is now providing weapons to YPG fighters. [Link]
- Will Porter looks at US strategy in Syria. [Link]
- Turkey is resettling displaced people in the cities Turkey controls in Syria. Syrian rebel fighters and their families who fled cities like Homs are many of the people being resettled. The Kurds fear Turkey is looking to change the demographics in the region. [Link]
- At least 16 civilians have been killed in fighting in Southern Philippines. ISIS militants took over the city of Marawi over a week ago. [Link]
- The Philippines government claims it is close to retaking the city of Marawi. [Link]
- 200,000 civilians have fled Malawi since ISIS took over the city. Military officials are worried that ISIS fighters are leaving the city with civilians. [Link]
On Foreign Policy Focus #46, I examine some recent comments from General Mattis on Yemen. Mattis claims that Iran is the country trying to destabilize Yemen. I argue that Saudi Arabia with US backing is responsible for destabilizing Yemen. Iran has provided little support to the Houthi and has avoided the Yemeni Civil War for the most part. Is Mattis looking to mislead the American people or has he been misled? I also give updates on Syria, China, and Iraq. LISTEN HERE!!
