Support for Jordan part of US strategy against Daesh — Kerry

AMMAN — US Secretary of State John Kerry said supporting the stability of Jordan and Lebanon and working with Turkey is part of the US strategy against the Daesh terror group, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported Friday. 

Speaking in an interview with CNN, Kerry said US President Barack Obama has outlined Washington’s goals in weakening and then defeating Daesh.

As part of its strategy regarding Syria, the US will support the stability of neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Lebanon and work with Turkey as part of efforts towards a political solution.

The strategy is useful to a certain extent, and although its speed has not been as planned, it is achieving important gains, such as securing 75 per cent of the border between Syria and Turkey, Kerry said.

He added that the strategy includes conducting operations in partnership with Turkey to secure the rest of the border and putting pressure on Daesh’s stronghold in Raqqa, Syria, according to Petra.  

Areas controlled by Daesh in Iraq and Syria decreased by 17,000 square kilometres, testifying to the huge pressure put on the group , the secretary of state said.

As for the operations conducted by the Kurds in Sinjar, Kerry said a large group of peshmerga forces are heading to confront Daesh militants based there.

He said the US’ role is to conduct air raids in support of these offensives.

Kerry added that he is sure Sinjar will be freed just as Tikrit was and that Iraqi forces are currently marching towards Ramadi.