US moving more military equipment into Iraq to fight ISIL
Iran Press TV
Thu Feb 5, 2015 2:59PM
The United States is deploying more military equipment into Iraq as part of the strategy to fight the ISIL terrorist group and to be better positioned in the event of downed planes, US officials said.
The new deployment is reportedly part of a continuous rebalancing of search and rescue assets that are moved depending on the evolving airstrike campaign.
A US official told CNN the move was not in response to a decision by the United Arab Emirates to stop flying combat missions over Syria after a Jordanian pilot was captured.
The UAE chose to suspend its participation in the US-led coalition airstrikes against ISIL out of concern for its pilots' safety following the capture of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh by ISIL militants.
Kassasbeh was captured in December when his plane came down in northern Syria during a mission against the terrorist group. The pilot was later burned to death by ISIL.
On Tuesday, the Takfiri terrorists released a gruesome video online showing Kassasbeh dressed in an orange jumpsuit and surrounded by flames of fire inside a metal cage.
US Representative Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, said Wednesday the Jordanian pilot's execution would modify the way the US conducts search-and-rescue operation for downed pilots.
"In terms of being able to launch search and rescue operations for any downed pilot those efforts are going to be taken to the next level, not only by the United States -- where they already are at a high level -- but by our partners as well," said Schiff, a ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee.
ISIL, also known as ISIS and IS, control swathes of land in Syria and Iraq. The terror group has been carrying out horrific acts of violence including public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.
AHT/HRJ
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