Iraq: No Need for US Ground Ops against ’ISIS’

Local Editor

The Iraqi government announced that it had never asked for and does not need any US involvement in ground operations against "ISIS" terrorists. The statement came only a day after the Pentagon promised Iraq more ground support if it was required.

Sa'ad al-Hadithi, spokesman of the Iraqi PM office told NBC News that "this is an Iraqi affair and the government did not ask the US Department of Defense to be involved in direct operations. We have enough soldiers on the ground."

He made it clear that any American involvement that stretches beyond their "train and advice" mission must be cleared with Baghdad, as mandated under the international law.

For now, Iraq doesn't need from the Americans other than support in arming and training the Iraqi forces, according to Hadithi. Around 3,300 US troops are involved in the mission in Iraq.

The Iraqi official statement followed a statement made by the US War Secretary Ash Carter about Washington intent to step up US military activity in Iraq and Syria.

The US will resort to "direct action on the ground" against "ISIS" both in Iraq and Syria, if needed, Carter said in a testimony before the Senate Armed Services committee on Tuesday.

"We won't hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against "ISIS", or conducting such missions directly whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground," Carted added.

The recent attempt by Washington to produce the results of a year-long air campaign against "ISIS" comes as Russia continues its successful aerial back up for the Syrian army, which has been driving "ISIS" back from many of its strongholds.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team