US army chief for Mideast in first visit to northern Syria
US Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie on Monday visited Kurdish-led allies in northern Syria for the first time since taking up the post. McKenzie -- who oversees US operations in the Middle East -- succeeded General Joseph Votel in late March. Votel's departure came just days after the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) recaptured the last patch of territory from the Islamic State group in eastern Syria with US support.