CENTCOM reported that the US and partner nations have carried out five airstrikes in Iraq and six in Syria against the Islamic State since yesterday morning. The Pentagon announced plans to deploy over 400 American trainers and hundreds more “enabling forces” to sites in Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia as early as March, where they will begin training Syrian rebel forces; partner nations in the US-led coalition are also expected to send trainers. The process of vetting “moderate” recruits is ongoing. The US and the UK agreed to work together to develop strategies to counter violent extremism; they also plan to conduct cybersecurity war games and to create a joint “cyber cell” to protect against malicious hacking.
