US News

• The 2020 NDAA establishes a civilian ROTC. The program will train people for future jobs at the Department of Defense. [Link]
• The US tells the UN that it is willing to be more flexible in talks with North Korea. [Link]
• The US will suspend operational trainings of all 5,000 Saudi soldiers on US bases. The Pentagon will continue classroom trainings. [Link]

Afghanistan

• The Taliban carried out an attack on the Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. Bagram is the main US base in Afghanistan. One person was killed in the attack and scores were injured. [Link]

Syria

• Defense Secretary Esper says he is more concerned about Russia’s growing influence in Turkey than Russia gaining influence in Syria. Esper also expressed concerns about Russia forming a closer relationship with Saudi Arabia and Egypt. [Link]
• The Pentagon says the US is likely to remain in Syria for years. [Link]

Middle East

• As the US moves closer to sanctioning Turkey, Turkey is threatening to kick the US out of air bases in Turkey. [Link]
• The US sanctions Iran’s major airline and accuses it of working to create WMDs. The US also sanctioned an Iranian shipping company accused of giving weapons to Yemen. [Link]
• As the Houthi make progress with the Saudis, the State Department is shifting from its belief that the Houthi are an Iranian proxy force. [Link]