syria. we all know it has cost the largest humanitarian crisis on the planet since world war ii. there are many many issues regarding the conflict and today we're going to explore some of those and a few of them that we will talk about is the food shortage in syria and the substantial starvation and deprivation that's occurred there. a recent development where turkey has revoked the permits to distribute food there. education is a big issue for everyone in the world and for six years of this war there is an entire generation that will be deprived on the educational front. there's a number of issues regarding that and we're going to delve into all of those and so with that, i would like to recognize our distinguished ranking member, senator mccartin. >> thank you very much for stepping in to chair this hearing. we should point out is that senator corker has commitments with president trump today in tennessee and that's the reason why he is not able to chair the hearing. i have talked to senat

is working closely with in syria right now. through with this greg myre of n.p.r., again, your calls, 202-748-8000 if you are a democrat. 202-748-8001 if you are a republican. independents, 202-748-8002. anthony, democrat from enid, oklahoma, up first. good morning. caller: good morning. thanks for taking my call. host: go ahead, anthony. caller: i just want to say that it's intelligent of president trump to let his decisions, buthe had them to be -- he come up with a plan and he's in control. stay guest: i'll pick up on that. it is important to emphasize, this was a plan essentially already in motion for the -- as president obama started bombing in syria and iraq almost three years ago at this point. there will be changes, there ill be tweaks, but this is essentially a plan that began years ago and we're going to hit a very important point. the talk focuses on the military peration, but i think it is such an important question of what happens politically, you plausible scenario ithin a matter of months when islam is defeated i

and that is syria today.t a recent conference on supporting syrians, a young syrian who works for mercy corps told the assembly, he said i am waiting for the war to stop so i can go back and rebuild syria. i believe that we can rebuild syria better than before.i feel i have a lot of power and i can bring my skills. i can now speak out in the lead. i want the same for other youth as well. and friends, let's remember him.let's remember the human face of the people involved and let's never lose hope regardless of how complex or how dark sometimes the day seems. thank you very much. >> thank you. -- >> it is a real honor to be back in front of this committee. alongside some extraordinary humanitarian leaders. i want to echo what neil has said about the really humbling work done by the syrian doctors we are proud to work alongside of them is syria. i also echo his mutual admiration's that we are created for each other and an organization that we are proud to stand alongside and admire. i will not take long for thi

syria, and the iraq issue. and the other problems in our territory were all discussed in our meetings. some of the topics raised in foreign ministers meeting in brussels tomorrow. we'll be negotiating all the matters withour cars parts. as -- counterparts. as two friends in allied countries we should join our forces and we also have this determination to make some active steps toward the risks or threats faced by our people in both countries. the beginning of my remarks, i said that we should create a energy in our relationship, a new impetus in our work. during the previous u.s. administration there were some incidents affected our relations. one of them is, as you know, we're having those fight against daesh in syria. the previous administration was in cooperation with wgpgnpg and supporting ypg. the alternative are admitting there is no difference between the pkk and ypb. pkk is a listed terrorist but in there has over in been a pkk in syria. the previous administration supported yp x. that was saddening bec

>> also what syria will be. >> and it will be different six he went to syria 2011 so talk to us abouthe circumstances that made you realize i cannot stay here anymore quick. >> the way they control society is your actions barely borne by you individually. if i had got and detained for all the work should i have been caught in detained may be then a lot of got out because i was american. i felt it was starting to close than. and the restoration was done . i have been there two years. and i didn't want to but my family in any further jeopardy. but those who were trying to make a fast buck and had deteriorated and there were too many kidnappings. also monitor it is testing in and messaging. >> comeback now. you don't love me. >> since our will turn over to the audience. >> you really describe the motion so tell us more about the writing process kind of like sticking needles in your eyes. was that painful or were you driven? >> was painful it is one thing to know the family stories but of the people that you know anyone to have a future relationship with with what we do with a story that

we can do that for syria, which are allies with united states of america. the previous administration was to not extradite the responsible person who is orchestrating this in turkey. we have shared all information, all documentation with the previous u.s. we submitted our request during my last visit to washington we have shared the news document which has been sent by our news. as mr. tillerson has mentioned today, jeff sessions is now working on this document very thoroughly. so we're expecting some concrete steps in that sense as well. at least some administrative measures have been taken, sub -- should be given to the person in question. in order to develop the trust, develop the mutual cooperation between the trick in the united states should be regenerated are present mentioned that phone call as well. with all of this, concrete steps were quite hopeful to further improve our bilateral relations as well. and all the aspects i have mentioned we are ready to strengthen our cooperation. now you look at the moment there are many problems they cannot even

, we can not make any friendly game inside syria or outside syria. trust with us to make good result in future, because everybody wants to make something for syria. it is hard work, hard job, hard situation for us. syria's president bashir al—assad wants the perception to be his country is returning to normal and sport helps with that aim, but regardless of his intentions, it's clear that sport, that football coming back to syria provides the people with a chance to forget about their worries. at least for 90 minutes. that need is all the more acute after this week's surprise attack by rebels in damascus, and the government's response with typical force. i met the most senior figure in syrian sport and asked, given evidence of war crimes by the regime, if his country should compete internationally? translation: when terrorism and jihadis came to syria, it became our duty to defend our schools and hospitals. if a thief arrives at your house, will you let him steal it or will you defend your house and your family? for the first time in six years, syria

one example is inside syria, but i one example is inside syria. i draw your attention to mosul. i was about 15 kilometers from mosul at the end of last week. it's thanks to u.s. support that when isis is driven out of an area of mosul, humanitarians are the first to go in after, including from the organizations represented here, supported by the usns doing that. that work is beginning to put together the elements of a functioning city. so in the east of mosul, there's some reconstruction work that's allowing people to have basic services that they can go back to. thirdly, u.s. foreign assistance is distinguished by its ability to target the most vulnerable. often that is women and girls. it's often labeled as protection work, quote-unquote, protection work. we're certainly proud to be partnering across the region with the u.s. in protecting women and girls from the unspeakable levels of abuse that are often associated with emergency humanitarian situations. i think the very important to flag that. the final thing i'd mention is that it's a scandal to me that less than 2% of the

at the same time we saw a worsening of conditions in syria. i think it's important to keep in mind that the events in syria had such a direct impact on turkey as well. president obama dr a redline said that the u.s. would not tolerate the use of chemical ons. chemical weapons were used. turkey and erdogan -- >> by the assad regime spirit by the assad regime against the rebels, rebel stronghold around damascus. erdogan rightly felt that the u.s. would respond. he had received such assurances. when he start to go wildly on the red line, erdogan made a decision of the u.s. couldn't be relied upon to enforce our goal of regime change in syria. and turkey started its wholesale assistance to jihadi groups, including groups that became the islamic state. through the jihadi highway that ran from the border to rocker -- raqqa, there were weapons that were transferred, money, logistical support, wounded warriors from syria appeared in hospitals in turkey for medical care i have a friend who's a doctor in one of those hospitals and she explained how isis

turkey has pushed isis off the turkey-syria border through operation euphrates shield. this entire border is now inaccessible to isis and we will ensure that it stays that way. near all of abu bakr al baghdadi's deputies are now dead including the mastermind behind the attacks in brussels, paris and elsewhere. it is only a matter of time before baghdadi himself meets this same fate. the libyan government of national accord aligned fighters from misrata routed isis from outside of iraq and syria. we are pleased to have representatives of the libyan government here with us today. in iraq and syria, our partners on the ground have liberated 50,000 square kilometers of territory from isis freeing nearly 2.5 million people in cities, villages and towns. most importantly, the liberation of all of this territory has held. isis has recovered none of it. 17 coalition members are producing content in five languages to counteract isis' propaganda and its attack on its online presence. these efforts have yielded a 75% reduction of isis content on the internet in one year and the ta

roger: and what syria will you go home to? kholoud: syria that i was dreaming about.l believe that? kholoud: yes. roger: what's the basis for your belief? just hope and faith? kholoud: and the sacrifice of my friends. we'll be traitors if we fail them, so i'll continue with this till the end. roger: till the end of time. kholoud: either see this or die. and in both cases, i will be satisfied. roger: evgeny, it's hard to continue after that, but do you believe that your movie will help bring about the situation that kholoud just described and that she will be able to -- was that a purpose of yours, a reason for making the movie? evgeny: there were many reasons. i as a filmmaker believe that we are responsible to learn about people and to tell their stories, to bring their voices. if i will be able through this movie to change somebody's perception, to teach somebody, and to make people to change their minds, even a few, and then to save a life. roger: what would you like to see syria do? kholoud: stop assad from bombing syrians. and a no-fly zone. if anyone started to

we cannot play any friendly game inside syria or outside syria.rybody wants to make something for syria. it is a hardjob, a hard situation. it is clear that sport, that football coming back to syria divides the people with a chance to forget about their worries, at least forget about their worries, at least for 90 minutes. but the war has destroyed football careers. a promising young player in syria fled the violence with his family in 2012. now living in a refugee camp in northern jordan, he 2012. now living in a refugee camp in northernjordan, he works as part ofa in northernjordan, he works as part of a scheme that provides football coaching to 3000 children each week. he, however, has not given up on his own football dream. backin back in malaysia, those fortunate enough to be pursuing world cup hopes are focusing on the biggest game of their careers. but the syrian team also has a unique perspective on why sport matters so much and so little. more on our state of sport week can be found on the bbc sport website — including a chance to watch o

let's talk about syria. the war in syria has entered its seventh year. 300,000 people. that's according to the united nations. this graph from the un shows that at least five million people have left the country. close to 5 million. a further six million are internally displaced. they have had to leave their homes and go somewhere else in syria. that's more than half the population. and an estimated 13.5 million people are in need of aid. homs is syria's third largest city. the government controls almost all of it. lyse doucet is there. three years ago she reported from there. she has been back to meet a little girl caught up in the fighting. winter, 2014. the old city of homs in rebel hands. besieged and bombarded for two years. the government finally allowed some families to leave. including baraha. eight years old. one of the most traumatised children i'd seen in this war. and what do you want to do now? look at her now. a wish come true. three years on. back in school. back in her old neighbourhood. baraha is now one of the oldest in her class. war f

he symbolizes the death of kids in syria.n august of 2016, in an ambulance, this is a struggle of survival and then from december of last year -- so i think through these kids, through their stories, through the kids that are interviewed, and i interviewed a lot of kids, altogether interviewed over 100 people in my movie, so to the kids, for the first time i put all of 0 them in the context of the story, through their faces, through their story i am trying to tell about civil war, about all of the intervention, about hope that the kids still have because they believe one day they will be able to go back to syria and rebuild the country. so for me it is what is important to deliver these voices and keep my camera on their eyes. i think her the heroes, they are also struggling with that, but they are also my heroes. at the end of the day. >> cohen: kholoud there is a cycle called, the boys found head down on the beach and all the world erupts and says we cannot tolerate this any longer. this is terrible, unacceptable. and then

can two of the main players in this syria conflict bury differences?urkey says it will cooperate with russia in military matters, but these are two countries on opposing sides, can they really heal the rift? and guatemala, the shocking death of 36 girls in a fire at a children's home. abuse allegations putting the government under pressure to come up with answers. and the south korean presidents has been ousted from office. her supporters took to the streets and a demonstration turned deadly. ♪ host: thank you for joining me. turkey and russia taken a step toward rebuilding the relationship. on a visit to moscow, the turkish presidents says they are cooperating with russia on the issue of syria. presidents putin said he was optimistic about a peace deal. they have both invested in syria and is far they have supported different sides in the conflict. reporter: the two leaders were all smiles as they met in the kremlin and the relations between turkey and moscow have become much friendlier as of late. >> we are glad are intergovernmental relations are be

we saw a worsening of conditions in syria. keep in mind they have such a direct impact on turkey as well. to say the u.s. would not tolerate the use of chemical weapons. but turkey and erdogan against the rebels with the rebel stronghold. erdogan right the thought that he received assurances from the u.s. but erdogan may the decision to enforce a cool of regime change and then started the groups that became the islamic state through the gi highway across the border there worms weapons and logistical support wounded warriors from syria appeared in hospitals and friend explained how a spiders were brought to them through the national intelligence agency as medical services demanded this was not happening occasionally but the systematic policy decision. with the national intelligence agency and implicated in the 2013 analysis it to the manhattan corrections that is involved with moving goals those transactions could equal one per week so this is the policy taken and that the same time and believe some the tie-ins to the pkk 80% w

troops on the ground in syria. the potential impact of the republican health care plan, and much more. >> woodruff: we return to the controversy created by the chairman of the house intelligence committee's allegations about surveillance of the trump transition. hari sreenivasan has the story. >> sreenivasan: and for more on all of this we turn to matthew rosenberg, who has been following this for the "new york times." matthew, the intelligence committees both on the house and the senate side have been one of these last bastions of bipartisanship and cooperation. what has been happening in the last 24 hours? >> well, first we had devin nu nez going public with conversation that people close to trump, he had gleened their names from intercepts passed from the previous administration tks was unclear what exactly he was saying. then he went to the public and ran to the white house to brief the president before he even told his own committee members. basically for all the democrats on the committee in the house prompte

reporter: it comes at a time of change in syria. for the first time the syrian government is emerging from a long time of threat and feeling more secure than it has throughout the syrian conflict. run the israeli perspective, they conversely see a threat building. hezbollah has been fighting in the war alongside assad. they fear they could get a strategic foothold in syria through hezbollah and the presence of quid pro quo of the assistance given to the syrian government. escalation ofan tensions between syria and israel, that is the question. the two countries are and have been for many decades in a state of war. host: there was a deadly airstrike in a town on thursday evening. dozens of people were killed when a mosque was struck by an airstrike. we have indications who carried out the strike? reporter: people on the ground, dominant one of the opposition fighting groups in theyoalition of islamists say the americans were responsible. the rest of life this saying they did carry out an airstrike in the region, but did not target a

al qaeda in syria is still just fine. and for that matter, alal al sham, which doesn't intend to impose islam on us. they're not like al qaeda or isis in that sense, but they're essentially the syrian telebonn. they want a various regime in the country. all of the groups have essentially gobbled up the smaller groups. they have more resources and, therefore, the fighters have moved from the more moderate resistance groups to these more islamist groups >> sreenivasan: considering how many different fraction fighting inside syria and the different agendas all of them have, do the major players-- say, for example, the u.s. and russia-- can they possibly agree on actually fighting isis and al qaeda, versus supporting or not supporting assad? >> it's very, very difficult. ultimately, getting rid of isis is everyone's goal. it's the-- not just the americans and the russianes, but even, say, the saudis and the iranians, also major players in the region, and the turks, would all like isis to go away. but there are other equities,

those are us tanks in syria.lso today, america's confirmed it's made a separate deployment of several hundred marines. they're supporting a local kurdish—led militia as it tries to capture raqqa. raqqa is the islamic state group's stronghold in syria and as such has huge symbolic value. the us marines will be firing at is positions from around 30km away. while that's happening, the sdf militia will attempt to advance. in addition to the marines, those tanks i just showed you are part of a separate group of us army rangers. they're deployed near a town called manbij, that's north—west of raqqa. and the reason for that deployment encapsulates the complexity of this conflict. liz sly, a washington post beirut bureau chief, calls it a mess. "us troops flying us flags in empty syrian villages to try to stop their allies fighting." what liz sly is talking about is that the americans are trying to stop the kurdish backed militia being attacked by fighters who are backed by turkey. bear in mind everyone i've mentioned so

turkish troops have permanently pushed isis off the turkey-syria border.nd, the united states is grateful for turkey's important contributions as a member of the counter isis coalition. >> for more on this, i am joined from ankara by our correspondent. we have had talked of cooperation from tillerson, but there are plenty of differences between the powers. >> certainly. turkey sees the syrian-turkish militia as a bunch of terrorists . that militia is allied to the pkk, the turkish-kurdish insurgent group. the u.s. has acknowledged that relationship but says it sees no evidence that the syrian kurds are actually attacking turkey. washington regards the syrian kurds as its fomost proxy forces in syria, as an extremely effective fighting force against the islamic state, and it is using the syrian kurds in its campaign to capture rocca -- in syriacapital tillerson admits there are differences between the u.s. and turkey on the syrian kurds, and there are different -- difficult choices that have be made. the main purpose of tillerson's visit today was how to se

are active within syria. iran tries to expand its area of influence through the use of militias within iraq now employed to the west of mosul. and through other shia fighters in syria ar and yemen and bah ran and lebanon, thankfully the new administration has nurnd undertaken a review and the coalition has also made progress in taking ground from isol. we know they're planning the deliberation of raqqa, the capital. like you, though, i understand what the liberation of raqqa hardly represents. hardly represents the end of the conflict. the fight against isol will go on and the iraqi security forces will still, i coalition assistance. importantly last week in testimony before the senate secretary of defense mattis supported, supported maintaining a residual force inside iraq. [ applause ] we all know such a presence can bolster iraqi forces, lend stability, deter and watch for further iranian vapss and, and provide reassurance to our regional allies. that's important because as we remember isol's predecessor a

>> sorry, in syria, excuse me. first, there are u.s.pecial forces operating in syria, and they have been there for a long time. they have been there for more than a year. they are working against the islamic state in coordination with syrian kurdish fighters and a growing force of syrian arab fighters. they work, for example, these american special operations forces with the american air force which is bombing targets, islamic state targets in syria. that's been going on for a long time. that's not new. the marine deployment of artillery by contrast is new, and that would be an expansion of the mission so that now we're going to provide not just calm p -- combat air support along with special advisers on the ground but now we're going to be firing artillery as well. now, there's a second mission which the americans have also started and just in the past week and that's the pictures you're talking about with the american flag. the defense department announced at the beginning of this week that there would be some special operations force

this is not about syria and iraq. it's about a trans-regional threat. in this particular case, we are talking about isis but it's also al qaeda and other groups that present a trans-regional threat. so when we go to the president with options, it will be in the context of a trans-rooj natureg threat and i would highlight the three things that make it a trans-regional threat. there is obviously the flow of foreign fighters. we estimate probably over 100, 120 countries have provided 45,000 foreign fighters just to syria inand iraq alone. that's one element. the flow of resources is also an area that makes it a characteristic trans-regional threat. the third area is the narrative. so you know, our plan i think to be successful needs to number one, cut the connective tissue between regional groups that now form a trans-regional threat and so you got to cut that connective tissue and that connective tissue is the characteristics i just described. then working in combination with local forces and coalition forces, drive the threat down to the level where loca

same is true in syria.not follow the isis problem -- sol -- unless you get a solution to the broader syrian a problem that doesn't completely marginalize the majority of the population, which is 70. these things are going to be connected. and again this is where i worry that a sort of simplistic approach to a deal that says let's reduce tensions with russia vote actually deliver on the very real secret objectives that the mr. sasse in the region. >> very important. i want to get your take on that. both questions that michele raised, one is does donald trump's really odd and unknown relationship with the russians limit his capacity to do any major deal with them? and then does his, what i was struck me by the naÏve approach, we want to work with the russians to extirpate isis, when russia's allies are his -- has ball and iran. when i read did not go to see to extirpate isis but to reinforce a genocidal dictator. is there any sort of u.s.-russian deal to be had? >> so first i think the answer to question is t

troops to syria to try and battle isis. what would ground troops mean? guest: i think it has already happened. a small number of marines are there and there could be a lot, 2500 in the forward position and i think right now, the idea is these courses were not necessarily engage in ground combat the way we think about it but they would be more force of block of the possibility of forces in syria fighting each other because we have lots of people fighting against isis and we are not sending a large number of ground troops to syria. casualties to some degree, but i mean the number of forces is limited now. host: in the premise of your book, you mentioned technology. your smartphon has so much information about where you are searching and the dates between apple and fbi, your own security versus the nation security. guest: i come down with apple for the following reasons and the not alone in this, the most successful part of our economy is the high-tech sector, and it on the promise it gives customers that your data and information is going to be secure. if

same is true in syria.llow the isis problem unless you get a solution for the broader syrian problem that doesn't completely marginalize the majority of the population . so you have to, these things are going to be connected and again, this is where i worry that a sort of simplistic approach to the deal that says let's reduce tensions with russia will actually deliver on the very real security objections that the united states has in the region. >> very important, i want to get your take on that. both questions that michelle raised and one is does trumps really odd and unknown relationship with the russians limit his capacity to any major deal with them? and then does is, what struck me as rather nacve approach, we want to work with the russians to extricate isis, when russia's allies are hezbollah and iran, when iran did not go to syria to extricate isis but to reinforce a genocidal dictator . is there any sort of us russian deal to be had? >> first, i think the question, yes it does constrain the administ

troops to syria to try and battle isis. what would ground troops mean? guest: i think it has already happened. a small number of marines are there and there could be a lot, 2500 in the forward position and i think right now, the idea is these courses were not necessarily engage in ground combat the way we think about it but they would be more force of block of the possibility of forces in syria fighting each other because we have lots of people fighting against isis and we are not sending a large number of ground troops to syria. casualties to some degree, but i mean the number of forces is limited now. host: in the premise of your book, you mentioned technology. your smartphone has so much information about where you are searching and the dates between apple and fbi, your own security versus the nation security. guest: i come down with apple for the following reasons and the not alone in this, the most successful part of our economy is the high-tech sector, and it on the promise it gives customers that your data and information is going to be secure. if

israel and syria are and have been almost forever in a state of war.hey are actually in a state of war. israel doesn't like the assad administration, nor do they like isis, nor do they like the u.s.-backed forces that are fighting isis, so israel is always in a hard spot when it comes to syria because the enemy of your enemy is not your friend. >> no, it's not. another thing is israel has tried to not get too deeply entrenched in the whole syria thing, although they do conduct these air raids and things. they don't want to get too deeply entrenched. i think this incident this morning does highlight how much they take things seriously, they realize a convoy of weapons which is probably supplied by the iranians because they back hezbollah was headed their way and they weren't going to have any of it so they took it out straight away to make sure that couldn't reach its supply line, and that is always very important for the israelis, but i don't think they want to go too far beyond anything like that, and get involved in a quagmire. that's the last thing

the fifth round of syria peace talks have begun in geneva. at least 16 civilians including women and chilled were killed by an airstrike on a market in the suburb of damascus on saturday. and d russia, as many a as 600 people were arrested amidst nationwide anticorruption demonstrations sunday. the tens of thousands s of protestersrs were demandnding te resignation of t the russian pre minister. among those arrested was an anticorruption activist and reveal theleader who prime minister used a web of chcharities to conceal ththat he owns a a slew of l luxury real estatate, yachts, and in a tight an italian been your. hundreds of protesters were arrested saturday in the neighboring country of belarus. the arrest came after thousands of peoeople defied a protest b n and poured into the streets of the capital minsk to denounce attacks on people who are unemployed. in the u.s., "ththe washington post" reporting trump plans to unveil a new white house office today that will be run by his son-in-law and senior adviser jared kushner. the post reports

a school complex in syria bombed by syrian government forces in october was deliberate. one of the atrocities a united nations investigative commission sites in a report looking at crimes committed over the last seven months. the report stated government forces and their allies have shown a complete disregard for life and international law in the conflict. iraqi forces are making big gains in the fight against isis, as commanders announced troops have taken nearly three quarters of west mosul from the terror group. the u.s. envoy to counter isa says any fighters left inside the city will die there. making those comments as the coalition announced the group was completely surrounded. president trump, hosted a meeting with one of our strongest allies in the middle east. president met with saudi arabia's deputy crown prince at the white house. joining me to talk about it is an advisor to the deputy crown prince of saudi arabia and a member of the royal family. your highness, thank you for being here. i know you weren't in the meeting today but you've talked about it and hea

forces in the region, in syria. we had a discussion about the authorization for military force, something general mattis called for last week. i was glad to see that. i am concerned that appointment may lead to an expansive, open-ended commitment. you called it in the evolving campaign that could have long-term consequences, raising substantial and unpredictable risks that have not been fully considered or endorsed by congress as a whole. i am also mindful of the human toll in countries where we are raising a fight against isil, and how mounting human casualties, tragic in and of themselves, can work against our long-term interest in setting the conditions for stability. --ppreciate your redressing addressing it in your opening remarks. but i also appreciate the important work international groups are playing in monitoring civilian casualties. as reported in the washington post yesterday, according to a group you are familiar with, a british monitoring group, the frequency of civilian deaths linked to u.s. strikes i

the backside focuses on iraq and syria. red blots highlight where we think isis is located currently. distinguished members of the committee, good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to appear to discuss the state of readiness of u.s. central command. i come on behalf of the outstanding men and women of the command -- military, civilians and contractors, along with coalitions and partners from 60 patients. our people are the best in the world. could not be more proud of themi or their families. without question, they are the strength of our central command team. over the past 12 months we have dealt with significant challenges in afghanistan, pakistan, yemen, egypt, sinai, and elsewhere throughout our area of responsibility. we are making progress in many areas. but much work remains. we are also dealing with maligned activities by iran and its proxies operating in the region. it is my view that iran poses the greatest long-term threat to stability in this part of the world. generally speaking, the central reason rem

forces on the ground in syria? >> press secretary spicer: u.s.tillery unit intime arrangers have recently been positioned in syria to provide combined joint task force operations, the commander the agility to expedite the disruption of isis and raqqa in particular. the exact numbers and locations of the forces are still sensitive in order to protect the location of the forces, but there will be approximately an additional 400 enabling forces deployed under existing authority for a temporary period to enable rce and partner to accelerate the defeat of isis specifically and raqqa. as i've mentioned before, one of the things the president has insured is that the commanders have the flexibility to do what they need to fulfill the mission. the president is obviously as commander-in-chief made aware and signs off on all of those missions, but at the end of the day, it's going to be up to the generals to execute their mission to make sure that we continue to defeat isis and protect the nation. >> reporter: our involvement there really complicates the wh