U.S. sending special force to conduct raids in Iraq, Syria

Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said a “specialized expeditionary targeting force” would be deployed to help Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces battle the IS group.

In a later exchange with James Langevin, a Democrat, Mr Carter elaborated on the prospect of using the expanded special operations force in Iraq to conduct raids inside Syria.

US President Barack Obama had recently authorised 50 Special Force troops to be deployed to Syria, assuring that they will work mainly alongside rebels on that side of the border.

Obama is under pressure to accelerate a U.S.-led coalition’s efforts to combat Islamic State, in particular after the November 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 people. He said “we’re prepared to do more” if more capable local forces can be found to leverage USA aid. “And that’s the sensation we want all of ISIL’s leadership and followers to have”.

A U.S. official tells CNN that decision means there will be additional U.S. Special Operation forces on the ground in Iraq to fight ISIS.

USA TODAY reported Monday the Pentagon was planning to send more commandos if the initial force of 50 found allies willing to fight and take ground from the Islamic State, also known as ISIL and Daesh.

But there is growing acknowledgement in the Pentagon that it is impossible to effectively fight the IS group without some U.S. ground presence.

“The Iraqi government underlines that any military operation or deployment of any foreign special or non-special forces in any part of Iraq can’t be done without its approval, full coordination and with full respect to Iraqi sovereignty”, he said.

Carter noted the recent Kurdish victory over ISIS in Sinjar, Iraq, explaining that such a win effectively cut off the line of communication between the Islamic State’s stronghold in Raqqa, Syria, and the other city it controls: Mosul, Iraq. The new troops will be above the USA forces already in Iraq, the official said. He said IS gains strength by claiming to be fighting against Western aggression.

Carter, who testified alongside Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, faced skeptical lawmakers who argued that the USA needs to be more forceful in countering the Islamic State threat following attacks in Paris and Beirut and the downing of a Russian airliner. “I do not believe we are limited by the number 3,500”, the general said.

“But the more contributions we receive from other nations, the greater combat power we can achieve”.