The hunter is about to become the hunted across the war-ravaged landscape of Iraq.
About 200 U.S. special operations troops will be sent to Iraq, with part of their mission being to kill or capture senior ISIS leaders, a U.S. official has told Fox News. The force will also seek better intelligence about the structure and partners of ISIS to help turn around the war against the Islamic terrorist group.
The troops are part of a “specialized expeditionary targeting force” announced by Defense Secretary Ash Carter Tuesday.
“You don’t know at night who’s going to be coming in the window. And that’s the sensation that we want all of (ISIS) leadership and followers to have,” Carter said.
“This is an important capability because it takes advantage of what we’re good at,” Carter added. “We’re good at intelligence, we’re good at mobility, we’re good at surprise. We have the long reach that no one else has. And it puts everybody on notice in Syria ”
Iraq was not enthusiastic about the American plan.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi said Iraq wants more weapons for its troops, and claimed “there is no need for foreign ground combat troops” in Iraq. He warned that any operations against ISIS in Iraq “can only be deployed subject to the approval of the Iraqi Government and in coordination with the Iraqi forces and with full respect to Iraqi sovereignty.”
Carter said Iraq will be a partner in any attacks.
“The raids in Iraq will be done at the invitation of the Iraqi government and focused on defending its borders and building the Iraqi security force’s own capacity,” Carter said Tuesday before the House Armed Services Committee. “This force will also be in a position to conduct unilateral operations into Syria.”
A U.S. official told Fox News that the 200 troops heading for Iraq is a separate group from the 50 special operations forces being sent to Syria.
Also Tuesday, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, contradicted assurances from President Obama last month that ISIS had been contained.
“We have not contained (ISIS) currently,” Dunford told the House Armed Services Committee.
h/t: Fox News
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