According to the deputy commander of the US-led coalition’s forces, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), but not Turkey and its allies, will conduct an operation to liberate of Raqqa city.
Deputy commander for the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, Major General Rupert Jones (The Daily Mail / Jamie Wiseman)
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will liberate the city of Raqqa, which is currently under control of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, but not the Turkish Army and its allies, who are trying to take al-Bab city, located in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, British Major General Rupert Jones, who serves as the deputy commander for the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, said during a teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq.
“The force that looks most likely capable to conduct the liberation of Raqqa remains the SDF. Are we confident in the SDF? Absolutely we are,” Jones said.
He also added that the SDF has already shown its combat capabilities, when the forces recaptured Manbij.
“We’ve seen their fighting spirit, we’ve seen what they’re capable of doing. They re-took Manbij, a very tough fight, and they prevailed in the face of a tough – tough opposition,” the Major General noted.
Jones pointed out that during the operation, the coalition’s air power will provide support to the SDF, and stressed his confidence that the Kurdish-led forces will liberate the city.
“They’re closing in on Raqqa and we’re confident that they’ll be able to retake Raqqa when the time comes, of course with coalition support. That’s what we’re there to do,” he said.
At the same time, the Major General noted that the coalition will discuss this issue with its partners.
“We’ve also always said that we would discuss with our partners, in terms of who is best placed to conduct the actual liberation of Raqqa. We’ll do that, we’ll have those conversations,” Jones added.
