Gen. stephen j. townsend

In the most direct public warning to Moscow and Damascus to date, the new US commander of American troops in Iraq and Syria is vowing to defend US special operations forces in northern Syria if regime warplanes and artillery again attack in areas where troops are located.

Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, who is based in Baghdad, vowed to defend US special operations forces in northern Syria if they come under another attack.

There are currently 41 active-duty four-star officers in the uniformed services of the United States: 11 in the Army, three in the Marine Corps, nine in the Nav...