US loaded about 1500 military vehicles including Stryker AFVs onto USNS Bob Hope and Cape Isabel in WA, West Coast.

Reason unclear (readiness exercise?), but Cape Isabel is going South toward San Diego (or Mexico?), Bob Hope still moored at Port Tacoma, WA.

A key political and media adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has accused the US-led coalition of seeking to fragment Syria, saying the plan will fail.

“The targeting of civilians in Raqqa (the de facto capital of the Islamic State group) and the crimes committed against them… is something that sparks questions and it’s most likely that the US is trying to terrorize the Arab citizens in Raqqa into leaving their areas to establish a suitable ground for federalisation or the (creation of) Kurdish entity” in northern Syria, Bouthaina Shaaban said on Thursday.

The US will fail to fragment Syria “because the Syrian people are one”, she said.

Her remarks came as the US-led coalition is throwing a heavy support behind the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is fighting the IS in Raqqa.

However, the killing of civilians on a daily basis pushed the Syrian government to condemn the US-led coalition’s “crimes” in Raqqa and urge the UN to dissolve the coalition.

While the SDF is advancing inside Raqqa, the Syrian army and tribal forces are advancing against the extremists in the countryside, coming close to the last IS-held town in the eastern Raqqa countryside.

The army forces and allied troops have already reclaimed the western and southern countryside of Raqqa.

http://wap.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/damascus-accuses-us-led-coalition-of-trying-to-fragment-syria-117081800987_1.html

ARC Freedom ready for another trip toward Europe fully loaded with US military equipment.

Five pilots from 409 Squadron and their five CF-18 Hornets departed 4 Wing Cold Lake Wednesday, Aug. 16 for Romania.

Part of the mission will include air policing while the other part will focus on training and engagement with the Romanian Air Force (RoAF). These duties will alternate on a weekly basis.

Wing Commander Col. Paul Doyle commented that this deployment is related to Russian activity in the Black Sea.

“The Black Sea is an active area and it’s active because of the events that transpired in Crimea with the NATO response to the illegal annexation of Crimea on the part of the Russians,” Doyle said. “We stand together as an alliance towards this. We see the Russians are flying in the Black Sea because there are NATO ships that are in the Black Sea.”

Doyle explained that the role of the pilots while conducting air policing missions will be to demonstrate a presence in the area and escort Russian planes back to their air space.

“It’s a presence to show that we have the capacity and the capability to be there close to what’s going on,” Doyle explained. “We don’t do anything aggressive. You maintain a decent amount of separation from the aircraft and it’s understood what we’re doing when we do that.”

The pilots will be flying with the Romanians that are based out of Constanta, located on the Black Sea coast. It is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Romania, founded around 600 BC.

The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force has been in Romania since April and 409 Squadron will be relieving them.

One of the pilots explained that this is a NATO commitment through Operation Reassurance meant to reassure Canada’s allies of NATO solidarity.

The total number of Canadians in Romania will be 130.

The trip to Romania began with a flight to Bagotville, Que., where the pilots will spend one day. Then they fly to Prestwick, Scotland, and finally over to Constanta, Romania. Given the stops in each city to become accustomed to the time change, and in case of poor weather, the pilots expect to arrive Aug. 20.

Mayor Craig Copeland and Member of Parliament David Yurdiga were present to wish the pilots well before they deployed.

“What the base here is all about is not only protecting Canada but to go over where there’s issues in the world,” Mayor Copeland said. “We’ve got the best pilots in all of the world right here in Canada so we’re proud and you know our thoughts and prayers are with them when they’re there overseas, no matter what mission they’re on.”

The mission itself begins Sept. 1 and will continue until Dec. 31.

http://www.coldlakesun.com/2017/08/17/409-squadron-deploys-to-romania

US Military overseas operation ongoing on daily basis, hard to say where these vehicles will be transported, too many options open, just wait and check Ro-Ro Cape Victory AIS updates on Marine Traffic.

Officially these vehicles are bound for Europe, Atlantic Resolve operation.