Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 18, 2017

Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces gesture the "V" sign in Raqqa. REUTERS/Rodi Said

Jack Detsch, Al-Monitor: Raqqa win pulls US deeper into Syria conflict

As US-backed forces take victory laps in the Islamic State’s (IS) self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa, the Pentagon is considering extending its presence deeper into Syria, a move that could bring US troops into contact with pro-regime forces.

Col. Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the US-led mission fighting the terror group, told reporters that the international coalition is in talks with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commanders about continuing the campaign into IS-held areas along the Euphrates River following today’s victory in Raqqa. He said the more than 600 US troops currently training and assisting the SDF won’t be staying in Syria “indefinitely,” but acknowledged that “there still is fighting that is left to be done.”

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 18, 2017

No Clear End Game For U.S. Military In Iraq And Syria -- NPR

Analysis: Down, but not defeated: What is the future of ISIS after Raqqa? -- CBC

Russia receives second batch of Su-34 frontline bombers from Sukhoi -- Air Force Technology

Russia Testing New Silo-Based Ballistic Missile -- Sputnik

Troops in west Russia to get 1,000 modern weapon systems by yearend -- TASS

Russian Defense Ministry tests new missile for Iskander short-range system -- TASS

Is India Starting to Flex Its Military Muscles? -- Foreign Policy

Syrian General Responsible for Deir ez-Zor Defense Killed in Mine Blast - Staff -- Sputnik

Discussing 'red lines': Israel hedges military options in Syria -- The Jerusalem Post

Iran general mocks: No military ​threat by Trump because he ‘realizes our power’ -- Times of Israel

Embraer receives Super Tucano order -- UPI

Turkey arms exports: Should Germany send weapons at all? -- DW

Espionage case begins for Swiss bank spy accused of targeting tax fraud investigators in Frankfurt, Germany -- DW

Armenia Announces Big Military Spending Increase -- Eurasianet.org

Serbia to buy S-300 missile systems, MiG-29 jets from Belarus -- Defense News

NATO Members Train to Nuke a "Fictional" Enemy After Major Russian Drills -- Warzone

U.S. military under fire for resuming chopper flight in Okinawa -- Asahi Shimbun

US Troops Won’t Leave Stricken Somalia Any Time Soon - Pentagon -- Sputnik

Senators demand info on deadly Niger ambush -- The Hill

The Defense Department Is Looking Into Why Four U.S. Soldiers Died in Niger -- Time

Trump touts potential $2.4B Greek fighter jet deal at appearance with PM -- The Hill

Skyraider 2? The Air Force may bring back Vietnam-style combat plane -- Air Force Times

USS Ponce, Last of the Austin-class Amphibious warships, Decommissions -- USNI News

U.S. Senator Probes Pentagon on Russian Source Code Reviews -- US News and World Report/Reuters

Marines test system to 3D-print spare parts in the field -- UPI

Jim Mattis estimates 19 percent of military's worldwide property may be unneeded -- Washington Examiner

Trump touts 'historic' hike in military spending while budget still mired in uncertainty -- Washington Examiner

Senate confirms Trump Pentagon pick; moves defense bill to negotiations -- The Hill

McCain says he is on the rocks with Mattis and McMaster -- Defense News

A Simple Guide To Naming Your Military Operation, According To Winston Churchill -- Task & Purpose

Suit: U.S. Firms’ Bribes Funded Iraq Militia Attacks on Americans -- NBC

Is The U.S. Navy Suffering From A Catastrophic Morale Problem? [Infographic] -- Niall McCarthy, Forbes

How 4 Green Berets Took Down Joseph Kony’s Army With Tailored Messages -- Defense One

The Pentagon is worried about hackers causing a stock market crash -- Business Insider/Wolf Street