He said a small number of U.S. commandos were in the area training and advising opposition Syrian Democratic Forces. Nasser Haj Mansour, of the predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces, said Syrian government warplanes and helicopters launched more attacks on areas controlled by Kurdish fighters Friday. Last week, the Syria Democratic Forces, a coalition led by the YPG, captured the former Daesh stronghold of Manbij in northern Syria under the cover of airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition. Efforts by Kurdish forces on the ground to contact the Syrian jets were unsuccessful, he said. U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized the deployment of up to 300 U.S. special operations forces to Syria to work with the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Source: thestar August 19, 2016 21:00 UTC