US to send 200 more troops to Syria to bolster Raqqa assault
Source: The Guardian
The US defence secretary has announced that 200 more military personnel will be sent to Syria to strengthen the fight against Islamic State in its stronghold of Raqqa.
Speaking at talks on Middle East security, Ash Carter said Barack Obama had approved deployment of the extra troops, who would include special forces trainers, advisers and bomb disposal experts.
Three hundred US special forces are already in Syria working with a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters who are attempting to capture the city. The Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) has been gaining ground in areas north of Raqqa, the caliphates Syrian capital. The US has mostly been supporting the effort through air strikes.
Carter also made one of his most direct attacks yet on other Middle Eastern countries for not lending more military muscle to the fight against Isis while complaining about American efforts.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/10/us-to-send-up-to-200-more-troops-to-syria-to-help-fight-against-isis