US ‘laying groundwork’ for Raqqa assault, no role for Russia – Carter

‘The US-led coalition is moving into the practical phase of an attack on de-facto ISIS capital Raqqa in Syria, which is likely to begin before the battle for Mosul is won, according to the US Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
“We have already begun laying the groundwork to commence the isolation in Raqqa,” the Pentagon chief said at a press conference in Paris with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.
According to Carter, the two officials agreed that the 13-state military coalition that gathered in the French capital would proceed with a sense of “urgency and focus” and confirmed previous statements that there will be a likely “overlap” with the assault on Mosul, which began earlier this month.’
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