‘We expect to intensify our air campaign, including with additional U.S. and coalition aircraft, to target ISIL with a higher and heavier rate of strikes, ‘ Carter said, using an alternate acronym for IS.
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Mr Carter hailed Master Sgt Joshua L Wheeler as a hero, saying he rushed into a firefight to defend his Kurdish partners – even though the plan called for the Kurds to do the fighting. Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass., warned of “endless war” as the first reports began to float new proposals to embed U.S. troops with Iraqi security forces and deploy special forces to Syria. The special operations forces are being moved to the front out of frustration that American allies on the ground seem unable to make substantial progress against Daesh, which is increasingly ensconced among a few 3 or 4 million people (the press estimates of 9 million living under Daesh don’t take account all the people who have fled their rule).
The two men “fought within the ranks of ISIL from 2014 to 2015 in Syria and Iraq”, the spokesman said.
Many of those taking to social media defend Iran’s military action in Syria as necessary to stop the Islamic State jihadist group.
Defense officials hope recipients will pressure IS fighters in Raqqa.
Earlier Thursday it was reported that the US-led coalition forces have not carried out any air strikes in Syria for three days as of Monday, a lull that contrasts with the continued intensity of Russia’s bombing campaign.
Since launching its military intervention in Syria in late September, Russian Federation has been criticized for targeting “moderate” rebel groups as well as IS militants, something the country denies.
“I can’t tell you I’ve seen systemic change”, he said. Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton has said that she favors a no-fly zone in Syria.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) blasted Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph Dunford for the administration’s “half-assed” strategy in the Middle East.
Dunford said that on a visit to Baghdad last week, leaders had assured him they had not asked Russian Federation to extend air strikes into Iraq.
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Pentagon officials said Carter, like other senior aides, had been convinced of the need for new steps after setbacks such as the fall of Ramadi and the difficulties that US Central Command has faced in finding suitable partners in Syria.
