US mulls over deeper involvement in Iraq: Report
Iran Press TV
Tue Oct 27, 2015 11:23AM
The Pentagon is contemplating a number of options to boost the military campaign against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorists in Iraq and Syria, according to a report.
The options, which include embedding some American troops with Iraqi forces, are being considered as part of a mounting push within the Obama administration to more aggressively fight against terrorists, two senior officials told The Hill newspaper.
During the last few weeks, US military commanders have forwarded several options to the Defense Department, including one option that would make it possible for the Iraqi forces to call in airstrikes, a step that would bring American forces to the front line.
The other option suggested was for US troops to be embedded with Iraqis closer to the battlefield at the level of a brigade or a battalion.
However, the White House has repeatedly said US troops would not be allowed to play a 'combat role' or be engaged in 'large-scale ground combat' in Iraq.
Currently, the American troops in Iraq are embedded with Iraqis at the division level, which keeps them stationed at headquarters.
Some of the new options would put at risk the lives of the US troops in Iraq and require more personnel, according to one of the officials.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford are scheduled to discuss the options for the ISIL campaign on Tuesday when they testify in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
On Friday, Carter said the US was considering the possibility of US troops to conduct more raids in the war against the Daesh.
'There's always a look at doing more of what works well and doing less of what doesn't work well, and refining our efforts. That will continue,' Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told The Hill on Monday.
'You heard the secretary allude to the one thing Friday, which is the fact that we're going to do more of these enabling missions and advise and assist and enabling missions outside the wire with trusted partners.
'Clearly there's desire to do whatever it takes to degrade and defeat ISIL,' he added..
The American-led military intervention against purported Daesh positions in Iraq started in June, 2014. A similar coalition began in Syria in September.
US ground troops have rarely, if ever, participated directly in combat operations against Daesh terrorists. The US has largely limited its role to "training" and "advising" Iraqi and Kurdish forces and conducting airstrikes against ISIL.
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