U.S., Britain expect anti-IS Raqqa offensive in next few weeksOctober 27, 2016 - 11:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The offensive to drive the Islamic State group from its Raqqa stronghold in Syria will begin in the next few weeks, top U.S. and British defence officials said Wednesday, October 26, AFP reports. U.S. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter and his British counterpart Michael Fallon made the predictions nearly 10 days into a U.S.-backed Iraqi offensive on Mosul, the last major Iraqi city under IS control. "It will be within weeks, not many weeks," Carter told reporters at a two-day NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels. During a visit Sunday to Iraq's autonomous region of Kurdistan to review the Mosul offensive, Carter said an operation to isolate IS in Raqqa should begin in conjunction with the assault on its Iraqi bastion. Arriving for the defence ministers meeting, Fallon said: "We hope a similar operation will begin towards Raqqa in the next few weeks." The United States leads a 60-nation anti-IS coalition that has provided key support for the Iraqi army offensive launched last week. It comes in the form of thousands of air strikes, training for Iraqi forces and advisers on the ground. The loss of Mosul -- where IS leaders declared their "caliphate" -- would leave Raqa the last major city still under the group's control. Carter said the idea of simultaneous operations against Mosul and Raqqa "has been part of our planning for quite a while." Later Wednesday, he said the United States would likely work with key NATO ally Turkey to retake Raqqa when asked about tensions between Baghdad and Ankara over its role in the attack on Mosul. "We already are working extensively with the Turkish military in Syria" and this had produced "significant" results, including the seizure of the "very important city" of Dabiq. Earlier this month, Ankara-backed rebels seized the emblematic northern town of Dabiq from the extremist group, having already taken Al-Rai. "So we are looking for other opportunities including further within Syria, to include Raqa. That's been part of our discussions," Carter added, according to AFP. Turkey's positioning of troops in northern Iraq and its insistence that it has a role in the Mosul offensive have led to sharp exchanges with the Iraqi government, creating a headache for Washington as it tries to keep both of its allies on-side. Iraq on Monday insisted that Turkey was not participating in the Mosul attack, rejecting Turkish claims that it was. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |