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U.S. Sending 200 Troops to Syria to Help in Fight Against ISIS in Raqqa

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the new troops will help recruit, organize, train and advise local troops to capture the key ISIS stronghold.
Image: A Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter carries binoculars as his fellow fighters walk near the town of Tel al-Saman in the northern rural area of Raqqa
A Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter carries binoculars as his fellow fighters walk near the town of Tel al-Saman in the northern rural area of Raqqa, Syria November 17, 2016.RODI SAID / Reuters

MANAMA, Bahrain — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Saturday that as many as 200 more American troops are being sent to Syria to help Kurdish and Arab fighters capture the ISIS key stronghold of Raqqa.

The extra troops will include special operations forces and are in addition to 300 U.S. troops already authorized for the effort to recruit, organize, train and advise local Syrian forces to combat ISIS, also known as Islamic State or ISIL.

Related: What You Need to Know About the U.S.-Backed Assault on Raqqa

Addressing a security conference in Bahrain, Carter said the extra troops will help the local forces in their anticipated push to retake Raqqa, the de facto capital of the extremist group's self-styled caliphate, and to deny sanctuary to ISIS after Raqqa is captured.

He said President Barack Obama approved the troop additions last week.

"These uniquely skilled operators will join the 300 U.S. special operations forces already in Syria, to continue organizing, training, equipping, and otherwise enabling capable, motivated, local forces to take the fight to ISIL," Carter said in his address to the IISS Manama Dialogues in the Bahraini capital, Manama.

"By combining our capabilities with those of our local partners, we've been squeezing ISIL by applying simultaneous pressure from all sides and across domains, through a series of deliberate actions to continue to build momentum," he said.

Related: A Real-Life Horror Story as ISIS Loses Control in Mosul

The military push in Syria is complicated by the predominant role played by local Kurdish fighters, who are the most effective U.S. partner against IS in Syria but are viewed by Turkey — a key U.S. ally — as a terrorist threat.

A senior defense official said the troop boost announced by Carter will give the U.S. extra capability to train Arab volunteers who are joining the Raqqa push but are not well trained or equipped. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details of internal Pentagon planning.