Hundreds of ISIS Fighters Launch 17-Hour Assault on Kurds in Iraq

“The Vice President reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Iraqi sovereignty and territorial integrity and called on Turkey to do the same by withdrawing any military forces from Iraqi territory that have not been authorized by the Iraqi government”, the White House said in a statement.

There are growing signs of the United States seeking to step up its military campaign against the militants, who have killed thousands of people in Iraq and Syria and claimed responsibility for attacks in the West, including the attacks in Paris that killed 130 people in November.

Carter said MacFarland and Abadi believe there is no military need for the Apaches now.

Carter, however, had so far declined to discuss the mission.

Carter’s visit to Arbil, the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, followed a trip to Baghdad the day before.

Though the helicopters can fire their missiles from a distance, the aircraft could be at risk from ground fire when engaged in close combat situations, as happened during the previous USA military presence in Iraq.

Ramadi is defended by Islamic State fighters numbering only in the hundreds and is now nearly entirely ringed by Iraqi forces.

Many sceptics will want to see the recapture of Ramadi and then a clear plan to retake Mosul – Iraq’s second biggest city – before being confident the Iraqis are genuinely willing to win back their country.

The secretary commended President Masoud Barzani of Iraq’s Kurdistan region on the Kurdish peshmerga troops retaking Sinjar from ISIL control; he said it’s important because it separates the Iraqi-Mosul side of the theater from the Syrian-Raqqah side.

About 180 IS fighters were killed in the strikes that continued until Thursday morning, the USA officials said.

“Six of these F-15Cs were sent in response to the government of Turkey’s request for support in securing the sovereignty of Turkish airspace”.

A US-led global coalition of around 60 nations, including Australia, has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh targets in Iraq and Syria since August 2014.

Afterwards, Carter met with some of the American troops stationed in Baghdad.

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.

Carter said the Pentagon was preparing to arm two peshmerga brigades designated to take part in a future operation to encircle Mosul.