Iraqi Leader: Foreign Troops Not Needed on the Ground to Fight IS

He didn’t outline any fresh commitments specifically, saying plans would be announced only after foreign ministers first consult their governments at home.

Abadi reiterated that foreign ground combat troops were not needed in Iraq, although it was unclear whether Baghdad viewed these special operations forces in that role. There has been a growing call from some Republicans for more US boots on the ground and a divide among war-weary Americans about the prospect of greater military involvement.

Though the new troops will be based in Iraq, they will have the ability to conduct raids across the border in northern Syria.

Carter discussed strategy and noted that U.S.-backed Kurdish forces had recently retaken the strategic town of Sinjar and cut off ISIS’s “main line of communication” between Raqqa, Syria and Mosul, Iraq, which are the two biggest cities still under their control.

“These special operators will over time be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence and capture ISIL leaders”, Carter said.

US combat aircraft have been dropping bombs more frequently during the past several months, Warren said, with the percentage of combat sorties resulting in an aircraft dropping a bomb on a target rising from about 50 percent in July and August to about 65 percent in November.

Only one member of the committee, Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, raised concerns that the continued push to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad under the cover of fighting ISIS was drawing the United States into a possible nuclear conflict with Russia, Assad’s main military backer.

Nations could provide to help in Syria with medical teams, and intelligence gathering, he said. “And it puts everybody on notice in Syria that you don’t know at night who is going to be coming in the window”, said Defense Secretary Carter. “And that’s the sensation that we want all of ISIL’s leadership and followers to have”. He has been reluctant to commit large numbers of US ground troops, instead deploying limited numbers of advisors and elite forces.

He also reiterated the US view that ending Syria’s war is the most important step in defeating the militants and added that Russian Federation could be an “extremely constructive player” in Syria.

Kerry says he asked foreign ministers from the 27 other members of the alliance to do more to strike at IS’ core in Iraq and Syria and strangle its worldwide networks. The American forces that participated in the October rescue raid in Hawija, Iraq, were accompanying Kurdish forces when they became involved in the fight.

Iraqi PM’s comment comes after United States defence secretary says extra troops will assist forces in fight against ISIL. “This force will also be in a position to conduct unilateral operations into Syria”. One U.S. Special Operations commando was killed in that raid. The force will also seek better intelligence about the structure and partners of ISIS to help turn around the war against the Islamic terrorist group.

This time, however, no decisions have been made on where people will be held – or who will interrogate them – especially if Syrian or European ISIS leaders are captured.

Washington and its allies then sought to train the Iraqi army and the government to restructure it. Since September, Baghdad has US F-16 fighter jets at its disposal.