US sending more special ops forces to fight Islamic State

The US is deploying special operations forces to both Iraq and Syria “to support the fight against ISIL”, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Monday.

“President Erdogan is completely committed and ready to proceed with Turkish forces, and in cooperation with others, to help guarantee that the remaining portion of the border is sealed”, Kerry said.

U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., issued a statement following Carter’s appearance before Congress, calling the deployment of more U.S. ground troops a mistake.

U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren said the “specialized expeditionary targeting force” will consist of about 100 troops, including a smaller group of commandos who will conduct “very precise, very surgical” operations.

It’s become especially vital because of ISIS’s growing ability to operate in encrypted portions of cyberspace for US troops to react as quickly as they can after getting intelligence tips.

The 50 special operations forces that the president and Pentagon previously announced were headed for northeastern Syria, will not be directly involved in ground combat operations.

Republican Congressman Trent Franks said: “First thing related to ISIS, they (the administration) have to try to arm the Kurds and we are going to have to have some American presence on the ground and do what is necessary to destroy this evil organization”. “Tens of thousands of USA personnel are operating in the broader Middle East region, and more are on the way”.

He added that the U.S.is prepared to do more as “Iraq shows capability and motivation in the counter-ISIL fight and in resolving its political divisions”.

He didn’t address whether the USA might be willing to bring Russian Federation into its military effort against IS, as some members such as France have been proposing.

Iraq’s Prime Minister responded to Carter’s announcement, saying new special ops forces did not need to be deployed. In May, a Delta Force raid in Syria killed IS financier Abu Sayyaf, yielded intelligence about the group’s structure and finances, and his wife, held in Iraq, has been cooperating with interrogators. Americans, including those here in western MA, are divided over the best strategy to fight ISIS.

“We’ve been talkin’ about this with the prime minister for weeks”, Warren said.

Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the committee, said the group needs to be defeated, not just contained.

Turkey is distrustful of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which has proved a useful US ally in fighting Islamic State.

Warren said only that the number of American troops assigned to the commando team would be in “double digits” (no specific number, but more than 10). This will put them closer to the front lines, allowing them to react faster officials say.