Defense Secretary Ash Carter is outlining changes the Obama administration is considering to gather momentum in the battle against Islamic State militants — including more airstrikes in Syria.

In testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Carter described changes in approaches to what he called the three “R’s.” One is Raqqa, the Islamic State-declared capital in Syria. Another is Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province in western Iraq. And the third is raids, or opportunistic attacks against the Islamic State in both Iraq and Syria.

Carter said the U.S. would ramp up airstrikes in Syria. Carter’s testimony comes as Russia is conducting its own airstrikes in Syria, saying it aims to help the government defeat the Islamic State and other terrorists.

(AP)