Raqqa offensive

The United States and its local Arab, Christian and Kurdish allies—the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)—in northeastern Syria are preparing to attack Raqqa, the reportedly heavily defended last bastion of ISIL. The current plan is that U.S. forces will train, arm, advise and support the SDF, who will then bear the brunt of the direct fighting to liberate and then secure the city.

Hundreds of US Marines have arrived in Syria to establish an outpost in support of the operation to retake the city of Raqqa, the de-facto Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) capital in the country, the US-led coalition confirmed on Thursday.

Iraqi forces advanced in west Mosul and fighters in Syria seized a key supply route to Raqqa yesterday as twin U.S.-backed offensives gained ground against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

Russia's S-400 long-range air defense missile systems stood as the most possible to purchase among many others for Turkey's long-range anti-missile shield, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Işık has said.

U.S. Chief of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford held a meeting on Feb. 17 with Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar at the İncirlik air base to discuss an offensive to capture Raqqa from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).