• OzzModz is no longer taking registrations. All registrations are being redirected to Snog's Site
    All addons and support is available there now.

Carter: More special forces going to Iraq

Luke Skywalker

Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
Defense Secretary Ash Carter(Photo: AP)


WASHINGTON — The Pentagon plans to send additional U.S. special operations forces to Iraq to conduct raids on Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told Congress on Tuesday.
The commandos will coordinate with the Iraqi government and fight with Iraqi and Kurdish peshmerga troops, Carter said. The<span style="color: Red;">*</span>special operations force will be an addition to U.S. forces already in<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Iraq, said a senior Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly. The exact number of troops has not been determined.
"These special operators will over time be able to conduct raids, free hostages,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>gather intelligence, and capture ISIL leaders," Carter said. "That creates a virtuous cycle of better intelligence,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>which generates more targets, more raids, and more momentum. The raids in Iraq will be done<span style="color: Red;">*</span>at the invitation of the Iraqi government and focused on defending its borders and building the (Iraqi security force's)<span style="color: Red;">*</span>own capacity. This force will also be in a position to conduct unilateral operations into
Syria."
Carter told Congress Tuesday the Pentagon is prepared to send more special operations forces to support the fight against Islamic State terrorists in Syria.
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. The addition of more troops to the fight represents a significant deepening of the U.S. involvement in the fight against the Islamic State. The Obama administration has been reluctant to commit ground forces to the fight in Iraq and Syria.
The initial force special operators will work with local forces to gather intelligence on the ground and help enhance the use of air strikes by the U.S.-led coalition, Carter told the House Armed Services Committee. Where the special operations unit finds more opportunities to partner with local forces, more commandos will be added, Carter said.
"We are prepared to expand it," Carter said.
Carter also told Congress that the U.S.-led coalition has expanded air strikes in November to their highest level since the campaign began in August 2014. Several senior leaders from ISIL have also been killed and its source of revenue —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>illegally obtained oil —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>has been struck., he said.
The ISIL attacks in France, which killed 130 people on Nov. 13, has added a sense of urgency to the fight, Carter said.
Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Pentagon will seek<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to escalate the fight against ISIL.
"In the days ahead, we’ll be aggressive in looking for ways to reinforce success," Dunford said. "And we’ll seize every opportunity to increase the tempo and effectiveness of our operations."
USA TODAY
Pentagon may send more U.S. troops to Syria








Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed
 
Back
Top