Carter: US willing to do more to help Iraqis retake Ramadi

“The liberation of Al-Tameem was very important and… enables other forces to advance toward the centre of the city of Ramadi”, said Sabah al-Noman, the spokesman for Iraq’s counter-terrorism forces.

Iraqi security forces and Shi’ite fighters chant slogans as they gather at Udhaim dam, north of Baghdad March 1, 2015. “There’s still tough fighting ahead”.

The United States has aided troops with air strikes against the terrorists, and Obama is considering sending attack helicopters to aid fighters against the terrorists on the ground.

“And just this past week, I personally reached out to my counterparts in 40 countries to ask them to contribute and, in many cases, contribute much more to enhancing the fight against ISIL”.

In a further sign that the U.S. is prepared to intensify its military campaign against IS, Carter said “The United States is prepared to assist the Iraqi Army with additional unique capabilities to help them finish the job, including attack helicopters and accompanying advisers, if circumstances dictate and if requested by Prime Minister Abadi”, Carter said.

The secretary, joined by Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva, said defeating ISIL requires using all components of the nation’s might – diplomatic, military, law enforcement, homeland security, intelligence, economic and informational operations. “That has not materialized among them”, Carter said.

Even the name — “specialized expeditionary targeting force” — is a bit of a riddle.

Iraq has assembled about 10,000 forces for the offensive against an estimated several hundred militants protected by planted explosives and other traps.

Republican members of the panel were impatient, demanding to know how the USA would train Syrian forces and why the administration had not enlisted the aid of Arab allies who could provide ground forces.

“We could well turn those fighting ISIL or inclined to resist their rule into fighting us instead”, Carter warned, stressing that long-term, local forces would still have to secure and govern the territory.

But for all the criticism of the administration’s refusal to consider a no-fly zone in northern Syria – which many military experts believe would protect civilians from both the Islamic State and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime forces – Carter sought to point the critique back at the committee. IS has repeatedly targeted Iraq’s Shiite majority, who the Sunni extremists view as apostates.

“I agree with what General Dunford said, yes”, Carter replied. In June, President Obama authorized the deployment of 450 USA troops to Iraq to advise government forces. “We will do more of what works going forward”, he added.

The coalition said in a statement that four such auto bombs were destroyed in air raids on Tuesday, as well as a plant where they were manufactured.