Petraeus Backs Strikes against ’Terrorist ISIL Army’ in Iraq

Local Editor

US General David Petraeus, a former commander of US forces in Iraq, said Friday he would support targeted strikes against extremists behind an offensive in the strife-torn country, who he said were developing into a "terrorist army".

Petraeus, who won praise for leading the troop surge that preceded Washington's exit from Iraq after a costly eight-year war, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that the militants posed a risk to countries outside the region.

"We must be careful not to take sides if we offer military support. But the growing threat posed by ISIL "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" [ISIL] means that military action will be necessary," he said.

He further stated : "We must realize that the [ISIL] poses a threat not only to Iraq but to the UK and other countries as well."

He added: "It seems to be much more than a terrorist group: it seems to be turning into a terrorist army, one that has acquired vast financial resources from looting banks and other criminal enterprises."

US President Barack Obama on Thursday pledged to take "precise" military action if required in Iraq and offered up to 300 US advisers to train Iraqi forces.

"If President Obama and other leaders conclude that the threat posed by ISIL is significant then I would support actions to target high-value ISIS elements," Petraeus told the Telegraph.

He further added: "If ISIL is seen as a terrorist organization with the potential to engage in terrorist acts beyond the Middle East, then that could warrant the targeting of high value targets."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team