The commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, Hadi al-Ameri stressed that Iraq is neither for the ISIL Takfiri group, nor for the United States. “These additional US forces will bring unique capabilities to the campaign and provide critical enabler support to Iraqi forces at a key moment in the fight”.
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Some U.S. and allied military and intelligence officials warn that aside from its elite counter terrorism force, the Iraqi military is not ready to take on Islamic State militants in Mosul without significant assistance from the Kurdish peshmerga and Shi’ite militias. As part of that announcement, Obama deployed an additional 217 troops to Iraq.
“Our decision: Iraq is neither a place for ISIL nor for United States”.
“We will provide more if and when the Iraqi Security Forces can make good use of them, and Prime Minister Abadi requests them”, Carter said.
A suicide bomber killed at least seven people north of Baghdad on Wednesday, security and medical sources said, in the second bombing claimed by Islamic State in the district in as many days. Carter landed in Baghdad on an unannounced visit and says U.S. advisers are prepared to accompany Iraqi battalions, if needed, as those units move closer to the fight for Mosul. It’s not clear when exactly that will happen.
The United States will deploy 560 additional troops to Iraq, raising the USA presence in the country to over 5,000.
The airfield has two runways, officials said, making it easier to move supplies and personnel.
Iraqi military officials told Rudaw that numerous militants are of foreign nationality and they are putting up fierce resistance in both towns.
“We were surprised by how destroyed the base was and how they had done it in an organized way”, said Lt. Gen. Abdul Ghani al-Asadi, the commander of Iraqi counterterrorism forces, who planned and participated in the operation to retake the airfield.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has pledged to retake Mosul by the end of the year.
Iraqi government forces have deployed in most of Baghdad, closing off main roads and snarling traffic.
The US is committed to supporting the Iraqi Government’s efforts to protect its civilians from ISIS terror attacks. And last Thursday, an attack at a Shiite shrine north of Baghdad killed 37 people.
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MacFarland said the new forces won’t go any closer to the fight than other troops operating out of Makhmour or Taqaddum, a staging base for the battles in Ramadi and Fallujah. Iraqi forces recently retook both cities. They would still be behind front lines.
