"I tried to explain to [Iraqi leaders] that our continued support really would be problematic were they to invite the Russians in to conduct strikes," Dunford was quoted as saying by Defense One. "I was assured that they had not extended that invitation and that they did not intend to extend an invitation to do that."
Dunford said he discussed the issue with Iraqi prime minister and defense minister during his visit to Baghdad last week.
The Senate has been worried about the possibility of Russian airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq since rumors emerged a month ago. Russia’s advances in fighting terrorists in Syria have led lawmakers to criticize the Obama administration as being too defensive and without a proper strategy.
During the testimony in the Senate, Dunford and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter tried to describe the next steps in the US-led anti-ISIL campaign in Syria.
"The end game we seek is both a defeat of ISIL and a transition from Bashar al-Assad to a government that is inclusive and moderate," Carter explained.
The secretary added that "the future of Syria will be in the hands of the Syrian people."
In turn, Dunford underscored that, with the help of Russian forces, the Syrian Army is currently making progress in reclaiming territory seized by terrorists.
Lawmakers also questioned the capabilities of Iraq’s depleted forces. Carter said that the Iraqi counterterrorism service is an effective and motivated force. However, Iraq lacks "capable and motivated Sunni forces."
[Sputnik]
28/10/15
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New top U.S. general Joseph Dunford said on Tuesday he would recommend embedding some of U.S. troops with Iraqi forces if such a tactic would bolster the currently stalled U.S.-led military campaign against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group...
ReplyDelete"If it had an operational or strategic impact and we could reinforce success, that would be the basic framework within which I'd make a recommendation for additional forces to be co-located with Iraqi units," said Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a congressional hearing.
Dunford's remarks came as the year-long U.S.-led coalition campaign against the IS in Iraq and Syria stalled following several episodes in which U.S.-trained local security forces surrendered strategically important Iraqi towns to IS militants.
Previous local reports cited U.S. defense officials who spoke on condition of acronym as saying that embedded U.S. troops would in charge of calling in U.S. airstrikes, a step that would bring U.S. troops to the front line.
However, it would still be different for the U.S. to deploy directly ground troops in Iraq, something the Obama administration have repeatedly dismissed as an option.
Around 3,500 U.S. personnel were currently involved in training Iraqi security forces at six locations around Iraq.
http://www.china.org.cn/world/2015-10/27/content_36917085.htm
28/10/15