WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — US Special Envoy for the anti-Daesh coalition Brett McGurk said on Tuesday the military operation taking place in Manbij, which began on May 31, is setting the groundwork for retaking Daesh’s stronghold of Raqqa.
"We have US-trained opposition forces near the Mara line…and we have provided advice, assistance and training to the Syrian Democratic Forces that are conducting the Manbij operation," Garver told reporters.
Manbij, located between Daesh's de facto capital of Raqqa and the Syrian-Turkish border, is a strategically important area for the terrorist group.
