IS fires rockets at Iraq base where Turkish troops stationed

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

“Everything we do…here is subject to the approval of the sovereign Iraqi government”, Carter said.

But he said the USA was ready to provide such support if the Iraqis asked.

The military operation in Ramadi is an important test of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s ability to muster government forces against the group and of President Obama’s strategy of relying on local partners to battle a militant organization that has spawned affiliates from Libya to Afghanistan.

Carter signaled that the Obama administration would accelerate some arms deliveries to the Kurds.

U.S. officials estimated that 180 Islamic State group fighters were killed in the airstrikes, which were carried out by U.S., British and French aircraft. “It’s kind of hard to inflict support on somebody”, he said.

The Turkish army said on Wednesday’s attack “shows once again the importance of security measures for the contingent” in Bashiqa.

“As attacks go, they were pretty significant”, said Brig.

Iraqi officials did not appear ready to seize upon all forms of US assistance on offer. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules.

US Vice President Joe Biden has called on Turkey to pull its troops out of Iraq as they have been deployed “without the prior consent of the Iraqi government”. Powerful Iranian-backed Shi’ite militia groups who are aligned with the Shi’ite Abadi’s government against Islamic State also oppose a greater US presence.

The Turkish military said it responded to the attack on the Bashiqa camp – used to train Iraqi anti-jihadist fighters with Turkish help – with fire of its own.

Odom estimated that at least 180 Islamic State fighters were killed in action.

While there are 3,550 USA troops are now in Iraq, the Pentagon says the number may change to account for the roughly 200 special operations forces conducting raids in Iraq and Syria. Subsequent reports from U.S. officials suggested they believed Iraq would accept the offer.

Iraqi forces have begun to push Islamic State out of Ramadi in Iraq’s western province of Anbar, according to USA defense officials. It was the latest stop on the secretary’s trip across the Middle East talking to top US generals and allied leaders about ways to increase military pressure on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. But he said they were able to eventually regain the territory and beat back the insurgents.