The U.S. and Turkey are deliberating the "final seizure
of Raqqah", Defense Ash Secretary Ash Carter said
Wednesday.
"With respect to Raqqah, we intend to go there soon with the
force that is capable of doing that, and enveloping the city of
Raqqah," Carter told reporters at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
"Then final seizure of Raqqah. We continue to talk to Turkey
about that, and a possible role for Turkey in that further down the
road."
The defense chief said cooperation between the U.S. and Turkey
in Syria is "extremely important," in light of the success of
Operation Euphrates Shield that Ankara launched in August to clear
Daesh along its border from Jarabulus and Azaz.
Carter also commend a Turkish-backed operation that used the
Free Syrian Army late last month to retake the Syrian city of Dabiq
that Daesh named its propaganda magazine.