U.S. to deploy special force to Iraq to boost fight against IS

PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. is to deploy a specialised force to Iraq to build pressure on Islamic State militants, U.S. Defence Secretary Ashton Carter has said, according to BBC News.

"In full co-ordination with the government of Iraq, we're deploying a specialised expeditionary targeting force to assist Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces," Carter said.

The operators would carry out raids, free hostages and capture IS leaders. They would also conduct "unilateral operations" in Syria, he said.

Islamic State conquered large swathes of Iraq and Syria in the summer of 2014. A U.S.-led coalition of 65 countries is conducting a campaign against the militants in both countries.

Carter made the announcement in remarks to the House Armed Services Committee in Washington on Tuesday, December 1.

He did not offer specifics on troop numbers, but said they would also be focused on securing Iraq's borders and building the capacity of the Iraqi government forces.

Carter said there was now an important opportunity to divide IS militants in Iraq from those in Syria.

In October, the U.S. announced it would send up to 50 special forces soldiers to northern Syria as military advisers to Kurdish and rebel forces.