Thomson ReutersU.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks during a joint news conference following a meeting with his British counterpart Michael Fallon at the Pentagon in WashingtonBAGHDAD (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday for talks with U.S. military commanders, seeking ways to intensify the fight against Islamic State militants.
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The U.S. has been supporting Iraqi forces with airstrikes since August of previous year, but has so far ruled out sending ground troops.
Six F-15e Strike Eagles were deployed to Turkey on November 13 to conduct strikes in Syria and Iraq…
The Pentagon leader attended a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi aimed at giving the USA a widening role in Iraq’s fight against the terror group, which now occupies the cities of Mosul and Ramadi as well as large areas of land in the north. “There are a number of complex relationships that the government of Iraq has to tend to”. But, he said, that doesn’t mean they won’t make a difference “sometime in the future”. Islamic State militants on Wednesday attacked a training camp near the city for fighters battling the extremist group, killing three Iraqi Sunni fighters and wounding 10 people, including four of their Turkish trainers, the Associated Press reported. Iraqi forces have been preparing to try to take the city back, encircling it. But progress has been slow.
“I think we are on the verge of breaking the back of Daesh”, he said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter traveled to Iraq Wednesday on an unannounced war zone visit to find new ways to hasten the destruction of the Islamic State group.
Carter first suggested providing attack helicopters and more combat advisers in the context that battle, saying more USA troops and firepower could help tip the fight in favor of Iraq. “It’s kind of hard to inflict support on somebody”.
On Saturday, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said it had officially filed a complaint with the UN Security Council, calling on the United Nations to ensure an immediate withdrawal of the Turkish forces from its country’s territory.
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Major population centres in Iraq and Syria remain Islamic State strongholds, allowing it to maintain a revenue base and possibly plan attacks outside its core territory.
