The structure of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces involved in the Raqqa campaign Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighters embed with US troops have been continuing the operation against ISIS terrorist group north of Raqqa. They anti-ISIS forces seized 3 villages without facing a significant resistance from ISIS. The so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), supported by the US-led coalition’s air power and special forces units, launched a military operation to liberate the ISIS-controlled city of Raqa on November 6. The first stage of the operation is aimed to isolate the ISIS-controlled city.The Kurdish YPG participates in the operation under the SDF brand. Turkey and Turkish-backed forces are not involved in the operation. YPG fighters and US soldiers side by side in the Raqqa offensive Even pro-US sources recognize that the Kurdish YPG is the main striking force of the SDF. However, they aruge that a 15,000-strong Liwa Thuwar Raqqa force consisting of mainly

China Growing Amphibious Capabilities   Written and produced by SF Team: Brian Kalman, Edwin Watson, Daniel Deiss The Chinese government has achieved a great deal in terms of modernizing and increasing the capabilities of its armed forces in the past two decades and they are quickly obtaining parity with their counterparts in the West. China has made great strides along the long road to rebuild its military, so that it can compete and excel in the modern battlespace. Much has been written about the fledgling PLAN aircraft carrier program. With one conventional aircraft carrier in service, the Liaoning, and a second carrier being built, China has obviously made the commitment to acquire at least a small aircraft carrier strike capability. Another important development, perhaps less sensational and headline catching than aircraft carriers, is the growth and modernization of the amphibious capabilities of bo