Syria: UAE Special Forces Will Train Syrian Fighters To Retake Raqqa

February 12, 2016 | 17:05 GMT

Emirati special forces will deploy to Syria to help train local Sunni fighters to recapture the Islamic State capital of Raqqa, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced Feb. 12, AP reported. Carter gave no details about the number of special forces the United Arab Emirates will send to Syria but said they would join the United Sates and Saudi special forces in training local fighters. Carter added that the United States will continue to battle the Islamic State despite the "cessation of hostilities" in Syria's conflict announced by the International Syria Support Group on Feb. 12. Though losing Raqqa would deal a major blow to the Islamic State, military force alone is not enough to defeat an insurgency.