Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that defense ministers from France and five other nations have agreed to intensify the battle against Daesh militants in Syria and Iraq, and that the coalition will work together over the coming months. Speaking at a news conference , Carter with France's Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian spoke at a news conference, affirmed that there was broad agreement on a coordinated plan to combat Daesh over the next year and take back cities in Syria and Iraq the militants.
"We agreed that we all must do more," Carter said after meeting with Le Drian and defense ministers from France, Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Carter also announced that there will be a meeting in Brussels next month for the 26 nations in the coalition against Daesh, as well as Iraq, to continue the talks.
The US has mapped out a coordinated plan against Daesh for over the next year, and Carter laid out the plans to the ministers during the meeting, which was co-hosted by France.
US officials have not set a timeline for a possibly long-term campaign that also requires political reconciliation to ultimately succeed.
The US defense official added there is a need for a greater Arab role was a focus of discussions and held out hope that Saudi Arabia would attend next month's talks in Brussels.
"Because Daesh is retreating and we have managed to affect its resources in the ground, it is the moment to increase our collective forces with a coherent military strategy," Le Drian said.
The ministers also discussed plans to retake two major cities in Syria and Iraq. These are considered power centers for Daesh. The allies plan to assist Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga forces to retake Mosul in northern Iraq and to help the Syrian moderate forces in ousting Daesh militants from Raqqa, Syria, the group's self-declared capital.
"Raqqa and Mosul must be won back," Le Drian said, explaining that it the campaign will only be successful if the coalition supports the local forces on the ground in Iraq and Syria. U.S. military leaders affirmed that the coalition is gaining ground on Daesh and they are confident the six core nations can encourage others to contribute.
British Defense Minister Michael Fallon said Wednesday prior to the meeting that Daesh is now under pressure and the aim of the meeting was to "identify how we can tighten the noose around the head of the snake."
"We are now seeing Daesh being hit in its own heartland. We are seeing the attacks on its oil wells and we are beginning to see attacks" in Mosul, Fallon told reporters. He said the UK carries out airstrikes six days per week and carries out reconnaissance flights to identify targets.
The US previously requested of coalition members that they contribute more, requesting special operations forces, fighter jet and reconnaissance aircraft, weapons and munitions, training and other combat support. But the vital needs are trainers and surveillance assets, such as drones. Carter expressed the need for increased number of police and military trainers.
US Senator John McCain said Daesh still poses a potent threat.
"[Daesh] has lost some territory on the margin, but has consolidated power in its core territories in both Iraq and Syria," said McCain at a US war strategy meeting, on Wednesday.
"Meanwhile, [Daesh] continues to metastasize across the region in places like Afghanistan, Libya, Lebanon, Yemen and Egypt. Its attacks are now global, as we saw in Paris."
