Turkey, US mull move on ISIS stronghold Raqqa

Ankara and Washington are discussing military action on Raqqa, the capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told a group of journalists on his way back to Turkey from the G-20 summit in China, where he had a tête-à-tête meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama.

“Raqqa is an important center for Daesh,” Erdoğan said, using an Arabic acronym for the jihadist group. “Obama particularly wants to do something together [with us] about Raqqa. We have told him that this is not a problem for us.”

Turkey has suggested the high-ranking soldiers of both parties could come together and discuss the issue, and “then what is necessary will be done,” he said.

“This is an issue that we have been discussing with the United States,” he said while responding to a question on whether Turkey would play a role in reclaiming Raqqa.

“What can be done there will become more concrete after talks,” he said. “What can be done on the issue is related to the U.S. stance.” ...
 [hurriyetdailynews.com]
7/9/16
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• Syria calls on UNSC to take punitive, deterrent procedures against countries that support terrorism

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• Russian FM: Any operation in Syria must abide by international law

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