Syrian war

Syria conflict: US to send troops to help seize Raqqa from IS

The US is sending 200 more military personnel to help fight the Islamic State group in its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, the US defence secretary says.

Speaking at talks on Middle East security, Ash Carter said the troops would include special forces trainers, advisers and bomb disposal teams.

They will join 300 US special forces who are already in Syria.

Last month a US-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters said it had begun an operation to capture Raqqa.

The Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) had been gaining ground in areas north of the so-called Islamic State's "capital" in Syria.