- Trump confirms the US is committed to NATO’s mutual defense pact. The defense pact is known as Article 5 and requires all NATO countries to come to the defense of a NATO country that gets attacked. [Link]
- Trump says Qatar has a funded terrorism at a high level and he spoke with other Arab nations in ending Qatar’s support for terrorism. [Link] Tillerson says that Qatar has made progress in ending support for terrorism within Qatar. Tillerson called on Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, and the UAE to end its blockade of Qatar. [Link]
- The US opposes a UN resolution that would allow a five country coalition to fight Islamists groups in the Sahel region of Africa. The US asserts the countries do not need US authority to fight the Islamist groups. [Link]
- Food aid is running out in Ethiopia. 7.8 million people in Ethiopia are dependent on food aid. [Link]
- The US claims to have taken out a major al-Shabaab target in Somalia. The US used the authority Trump granted the military in March to carry out the strike. [Link]
- Gaddafi’s son has been released from prison. Saif Gaddafi has been held in prison by a Libyan militia since 2011 for committing war crimes. The militia released Gaddafi after the government in Eastern Libya passed an amnesty law. [Link]
- Three American soldiers were killed, and two were wounded by a member of the Taliban that infiltrated the Afghani armed forces. [Link]
- In Pakistan, a man has been sentenced to death for posting blasphemy about Mohammad on Facebook. [Link]
- Around 180.000 civilians remain in the 1.5 square miles still held by ISIS in Mosul. [Link]
- Videos show the US using white phosphorous in Mosul and Raqqa. The use of white phosphorous in populated areas is a war crime. [Link]
- US-backed SDF forces have seized a second district from the Islamic State in Raqqa. [Link]
- The US is crediting Russia with helping to ease tensions in Southern Syria. The US has carried out three airstrikes against Assad-allied troops near the US garrison at al-Tanf. [Link]
- Russia tells the US that it is unacceptable for the US to attack Assad-allied troops. [Link]
- Fighting broke out between Turkish-backed rebel groups in al-Bab. Turkey used the rebel groups to liberate the Syrian city from ISIS. [Link]
- The US confirms it is aiding the Philippines government’s fight against an Islamic State allied rebel group. The US is providing surveillance, and US special operation forces are providing training. [Link]
- 13 Philippino Marines died in a single day of fighting in Marawi. [Link]
- A pair of brothers are responsible for the Islamist uprising in the Philippines. The Maute brothers lead a well-organized group of IS linked rebel groups. [Link]
