US to send special operation forces to Iraq in anti-ISIL campaign

WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (KUNA) -- The US will send "a specialized expeditionary targeting force" to assist Iraqi, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces in order to put even more pressure on ISIL, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter informed the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
"These special operators will, over time, be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence and capture ISIL leaders," he added.
The raids in Iraq will be conducted "at the invitation of the Iraqi government" to defend its border and build on ISF's (Iraqi Security Force) capability, Carter highlighted.
This latest announcement of forces in Iraq will be in a position to conduct "unilateral operations in Syria" and would join the "less than 50" special operations troops authorized to fight in Syria in October.
Carter explained that the update in strategy, "creates a virtuous cycle of better intelligence, which generates more targets, more raids, more momentum." (end) ak.bs