MESOP NEWS TODAY TOP OF THE AGENDA : U.S. Rep. Gabbard Made Syria Trip / JORDANIAN KING PRAISES PUTIN

U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said she made a four-day fact-finding trip to Syria (CNN) this month, during which she met with President Bashar al-Assad as well as refugees and opposition members in Aleppo (Middle East Eye). Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, has criticized the Obama administration’s support (Reuters) of Syrian rebels. – CFR President Richard N. Haass discusses the lessons to be learned from the fall of Aleppo to government forces in Project Syndicate.

JORDAN: King Abdullah II, on a visit to Moscow (RFE/RL), said Russian President Vladimir Putin played a “crucial role” in addressing the Syrian conflict and praised the peace talks hosted by Iran, Russia, and Turkey in Astana this week.  www.mesop.de