IS militants shell camp of Turkish troops deployed in northern Iraq

Islamic State militants on Wednesday attacked a training camp near the city for fighters battling the extremist group, killing three Iraqi Sunni fighters and wounding 10 people, including four of their Turkish trainers, the Associated Press reported.

In the United States, an unnamed official linked to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s office condemned the attack on Turkish troops, calling on the Iraqi and Turkish governments to de-escalate tensions over the presence of Ankara’s forces in the north of the country.

But major population centers remain in Islamic State hands, including the Syrian city of Raqqa, allowing the group to maintain a revenue base and possibly plan attacks outside its territory.

The United States has called on Turkey to pull “unauthorized” troops from Iraq, aiming to defuse a dispute that has rankled relations between two countries central to the fight against the radical terrorist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Earlier in the day, Carter arrived in Baghdad on an unannounced visit with the aim of meeting the USA commanders in Iraq and with Iraqi leaders.

Two Iraqi volunteers, one of them an officer, were killed in the attack on the Bashiqa camp, where Iraqi anti-jihadist fighters are being trained with Turkish help.

Iraq’s government has been incensed over Turkey’s move to send reinforcements to the camp in the Bashiqa region, near the IS-held city of Mosul. The small advisory teams wouldn’t be on the front lines, but would provide better planning advice and coordination for the Iraqi units, said Army Col. Steve Warren, a US military spokesman who noted that many Iraqis “don’t agree with the American presence in this country”.

IS used mortars, rockets, and auto bombs ahead of ground attacks during the assault, which was ultimately foiled, Kurdish officials said.

But the Iraqi government demanded the “complete withdrawal” of Turkish forces from its territory, indicating Ankara’s partial pullout was not enough.

Saudi Arabia has announced a 34-nation Islamic coalition against the group.

Carter said both Abadi and Lt. General Sean MacFarland, who is leading the war on ISIS, both feel right now that the helicopters are not needed for the fight to take Ramadi.

But he stressed that all USA action in Iraq would be done with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s approval, respecting Iraqi sovereignty.

U. S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter addresses the USA troops at the Incirlik Air Base near Adana, Turkey, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015.