'Liberation of Raqqa Won't Be an Easy Walk, Cooperation Crucial' - Russian MoD

© REUTERS / Rodi SaidUS soldiers stand near military vehicles, north of Raqqa city, Syria. File photo
US soldiers stand near military vehicles, north of Raqqa city, Syria. File photo - Sputnik International
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The liberation of Raqqa will not be an easy walk for the international coalition, and coordination of all forces is crucial, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The success of the operation to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from Daesh depends on the coordination of all forces fighting against terrorism, the Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said Saturday.

"It is clear to any military specialist that the liberation of Raqqa will not be an easy walk for the international coalition. The real success and date of the completion of this operation will directly depend on the understanding and willingness to coordinate actions with all forces fighting against the international terrorism in Syria," Konashenkov said.

He added that that the optimistic view of French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Raqqa operation was based on "some kind of special national sources of inspiration, not related to reality and the situation on the ground."

Members of the Iraqi army's 9th Division fire a multiple rocket launcher from a hill in Talul al-Atshana, on the southwestern outskirts of Mosul, on February 27, 2017, during an offensive to retake the city from Islamic State (IS) group fighters - Sputnik International
Even Optimists Losing Hope in Mosul Liberation From Daesh in 2017 - Russian MoD
On Friday, Le Drian told media that the battle by the international coalition to liberate the Islamic State’s de facto capital of Raqqa would start in the coming days.

Earlier this week, US and Syrian opposition forces were air-dropped to Syria's Raqqa province to conduct a joint operation to liberate several villages in the vicinity of Syria's northern Al Tabqah town from Daesh.

On Thursday, Syrian Democratic Forces spokesman Talal Selo said that the SDF units would need no more than 15 days to block Raqqa and start the liberation of the city.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which include Arab and Kurdish forces such as YPG, launched the Wrath of Euphrates operation to retake Raqqa, the so-called capital of Daesh, on November 5, 2016.

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