Carter: Counter-ISIL coalition ready to accelerate operations

The international coalition to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is ready to accelerate and intensify its operations, according to a planned speech by Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

"Today, we need to review -- and agree on -- the next plays in our campaign," according to Carter's prepared remarks released early by the Pentagon. "We must not rest. We need to make the plans and the commitments to build on our momentum and deliver ISIL's lasting defeat."

The meeting, which is taking place at Joint Base Andrews, MD, will feature a presentation from Gen. Joseph Votel, the chief of U.S. Central Command, who will discuss the ongoing military campaign and options for future operations.

"Then we'll identify the capabilities and support required to execute those next plays," Carter said in his prepared remarks.

The United States began to increase operations against ISIL in February and has encouraged allies to provide more support.

"In fact, two-thirds of our coalition members have pledged or already made additional military contributions since then while many other member nations have contributed vital economic, political, and humanitarian support," according to Carter's speech. "But we're all going to need to do more. Today, we'll identify both our enduring and emerging requirements and review our detailed metrics matrix of national contributions -- going through it row by row, column and column, and country by country. We must ensure that our partners on the ground have what they need to win the fight and then hold, rebuild, and govern their territory."

Carter's speech also indicates that the counter-ISIL coalition will also spend time discussing the economic and social repairs needed after operations cease.

"This last point -- the need to ensure that our economic and political campaigns do not lag behind our military progress -- is critical and a significant strategic priority," he said. "We'll discuss it today, and then again tomorrow at the State Department with our foreign minister counterparts."