Raids. These signal that the U.S. will not hold back from opportunistic attacks against ISIS itself or by supporting partners, whether by air strikes or direct ground action.
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Carter and Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Carter’s assertion differs from the “no boots on the ground” mandate that was reiterated ad nauseum by officials in the Obama administration since a year ago when the airstrikes started.
Although the two sides signed a document to avoid mid-air collisions over Syria, it does not represent cooperation and would not affect US airstrikes against ISIS, he said.
One of the officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the proposals were still in a conceptual stage – meaning that even if any were approved in the coming days, a USA military deployment could still be weeks or months away.
The US will also be sending additional aircraft, including F-15 fighters and A-10s, to the Incirlik air base in Turkey, likely repositioning them from other spots in the region.
The changes Carter cited focus largely on targeting Raqqa, the militants’ declared capital in Syria, and recapturing Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province in western Iraq, which Isis fighters captured in May and have successfully defended so far.
Last week, US forces helped raid a prison in Iraq, rescuing dozens of ISIS hostages.
Officials would not say exactly how many troops would go to Syria, detail their role or say how long they would stay.
Instead, the overall mission of the U.S.in Iraq is to enable “capable and motivated local forces rather than to substitute for them”.
Carter told lawmakers this week that raids like last week’s will happen more often when the USA finds opportunities to deliver the Islamic State a blow.
At the same time, Iran will be invited to take part in a multinational conference seeking a resolution to the civil war in Syria, in what would be the first instance of Tehran and Washington working together since the Iran nuclear deal was clinched.
Carter said that Russian Federation hasn’t attacked the handful of U.S.-trained rebels in Syria – who have been promised USA protection against Syrian attacks – but he acknowledged that other opposition forces supported by the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State have been struck.
Carter told senators the United States is focusing on the IS stronghold of Raqqa in northern Syria and will boost support for rebels fighting the jihadists.
The White House and the Pentagon had initially described Wheeler’s death as occurring during a unique event, but on Tuesday, Carter said similar missions, including a more involved us role, is expected moving forward.
“And that is that he is – does want to support – at least for now – Assad, avoid the collapse of the Syrian state, which I think he believed could occur, and that was one of the things that spurred his enhanced support for Assad”, he said.
Graham seized on their replies. “Some of them are within 30 miles (50 kilometers) of Raqqa today”, he said.
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“You have turned Syria over to Russian Federation and Iran….”
