Who will liberate Raqqa? Stay tuned

Syrian Kurds will be the fighting force that will encircle the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa in the coming weeks, but may not be the force that actually enters and liberates the Syrian city, the U.S. military said Thursday.

The current plan is to use members of the Syrian Arab Coalition, an umbrella group of roughly 30,000-40,000 fighters, to surround Raqqa and cut off Islamic State fighters, while negotiations with Turkey continue about its desire to play a role in the liberation of the city.