Cossack and Russian separatists clash in the Ukraine
The multi-ethnic nature of Russia and the Ukraine is becoming increasingly clear. We’ve long known that ethnic Russians wanted to separate from the eastern Ukraine, with Putin’s help of course. Now we learn that ethnic Cossacks have also been seeking to separate from the Ukraine. Now, Russian and Cossack separatists are fighting each other,
US air campaign in Syria to expand
If Syrian government troops attack rebel groups backed by the US, American aircraft will attack them. Look for Syria to avoid any such engagement; their forces are already weak and retreating from the north. It may have the effect of reducing government pressure on most rebel groups and nudging the government into fighting ISIL. Presently, the Syrian government is not attacking ISIL, preferring to see the rebels fight each other and have ISIL become the main rebel group. That might make the world see the Syrian government in a more favorable light – better Assad than ISIL.
The US is getting deeper and deeper into the Syrian civil war as frustration mounts in Washington over its inability to field an effective ground force.
Yemeni government troops retake major position from Houthis
Sunni troops continue to advance against the Houthi rebels. They have received air support from Saudi Arabia and other Sunni principalities. The question remains, are there foreign Sunni troops in Yemen now? Some reports say an Emirati brigade is there. Others say Saudi special forces.