Iraq briefed on U.S. special forces plan, Kerry says
- 9 years ago
The Iraqi government is fully briefed on U.S. plans to deploy American special forces to Iraq and the two governments will consult closely on where they will go and what they will do, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday Washington would deploy a new force of special operations troops to Iraq to combat Islamic State militants who have seized swathes of Iraq and neighboring Syria.
The group is also known as ISIL and ISIS.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said it welcomed foreign assistance but Iraq's government would need to approve any deployment of special operations forces anywhere in Iraq.
He also said foreign ground combat troops were not needed in Iraq, although it was unclear whether Baghdad viewed these U.S. special operations forces in that role.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday Washington would deploy a new force of special operations troops to Iraq to combat Islamic State militants who have seized swathes of Iraq and neighboring Syria.
The group is also known as ISIL and ISIS.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said it welcomed foreign assistance but Iraq's government would need to approve any deployment of special operations forces anywhere in Iraq.
He also said foreign ground combat troops were not needed in Iraq, although it was unclear whether Baghdad viewed these U.S. special operations forces in that role.