US defense officials presented President Donald Trump with a number of options to militarily defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The option the military leaders favour for the offensive on the militant group’s de facto capital Raqqa is to significantly increase US special forces numbers and weaponry in the country and provide more arms to Kurdish and Arab forces, the Washington Post reported, citing unnamed US officials.
The US currently has about 500 special forces in northern Syria, brought into the country under directions issued under former President Barack Obama. The Pentagon’s proposal to intensify the war with ISIS would increase this number, bringing US forces closer to the frontlines but without engaging in direct combat. It also advises using more US attack helicopters and artillery.
Another key aspect of the Pentagon’s proposal is to provide more arms, weapons and vehicles, to the SDF, currently leading the offensive to isolate Raqqa.
The US-led coalition has been actively supporting the SDF with airstrikes, advice, training, weaponry, and vehicles.
Turkey, a NATO ally of the United States, objects to any US support of the SDF, accusing Kurdish elements of the force of having ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Ankara had proposed to US defense chief James Mattis to work together, relying on the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to retake Raqqa as opposed to the SDF.
According to the Washington Post, US officials believe that Turkey’s opposition to the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) is motivated by domestic politics and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s desire to win an April 16 referendum on constitutional amendments that would introduce a powerful presidential governance system.
The SDF announced on Sunday morning the resumption of its military campaign on Raqqa, which had been paused due to weather. The aim of the current phase of the offensive is to cut off routes between Raqqa and Deir ez-Zur, to the southeast.
