Agence France-Presse quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on President Obama’s announcement that he will be sending US Special Operations forces and additional planes and fighter jets to Syria, and whether it will be enough to make significant gains against ISIS:
Experts said the US announcement could foreshadow an assault on the Islamic State group’s bases in Raqa in Syria and Ramadi in Iraq.
The White House also announced Friday the deployment of A-10 ground-attack planes and a dozen F-15 tactical fighter jets to the Incirlik base in southern Turkey and increased assistance to Lebanon and Jordan as part of the ramped up effort.
“It’s not clear that this will be enough to take Raqa,” said Faysal Itani of the Atlantic Council.
“However, it could help attract local recruits to what will be seen as an empowered effort, and perhaps help build some trust between Kurdish and Arab forces.”