Hundreds of Marines join local forces in Syria

Hundreds of U.S. Marines have reportedly joined local forces in northern Syria in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The Marines, whose deployment is temporary, are helping setting artillery as forces prepare for an assault on Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS, U.S. officials told The Associated Press and CNN.

The Pentagon and the Marine Corps have declined to confirm the deployment or to state the exact location of the forces.

There have been discussions on putting artillery forces in the area for weeks, according to CNN.

{mosads}The White House and the Pentagon knew about the plan, officials said, but it did not have to be approved by President Trump or Defense Secretary James Mattis because Marines are already deployed in the region.

A U.S. official told reporters Wednesday that “Raqqa will probably not be the final battle against ISIS.”

The official said ISIS could have as many as 4,000 fighters in the Syrian stronghold.