WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter expressed hope that the terrorist group would be pushed out of its de facto capital in 2016.
"It is certainly feasible that Raqqa can be pressured or even assaulted in the next year, it's also feasible that it will take more than one year," Warren said when asked how long it would likely take US coalition forces to push Daesh out of Raqqa.
Warren explained that the coalition was currently trying to isolate and degrade Daesh in Raqqa by launching precision attacks against its high value targets and cutting off their supply routes and lines of communication.
The spokesperson noted that freeing Raqqa would also depend on how quickly coalition forces would develop partner forces in Syria, specifically moderate members of the Syrian opposition, admitting that the coalition does not have the same relationships in Syria as they do in Iraq.
