White House says weekend air strikes meant to deny Islamic State safe haven

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Monday that air strikes by U.S. coalition forces over the weekend in Raqqa, Syria were meant to deny the Islamic State a safe haven in the area. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the intensified air campaign is not a change of U.S. strategy. (Reporting by Julia Edwards; Editing by Will Dunham)