Defense secretary says U.S. is retooling IS fight
American special forces could engage in ground raids.
WASHINGTON — Signaling a possible escalation of U.S. military action in the Middle East, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday that the United States is retooling its strategy in Iraq and Syria and will conduct unilateral ground raids if needed to target Islamic State militants.
The U.S. has staged special operations raids in Syria and participated in a ground operation to rescue hostages last week in northern Iraq that resulted in the first U.S. combat death in Iraq since 2011. Carter did not say under what circumstances the U.S. might conduct more such operations, but added, “We won’t hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against ISIL, or conducting such missions directly, whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground.”
Carter and Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Republicans have harshly criticized the Obama administration’s strategy in Syria and Iraq, where Islamic State militants have captured large swaths of territory and have largely fought the U.S.-led coalition to a stalemate.
With little recent progress toward defeating the militant group, the defense secretary’s testimony outlined a changing U.S. approach to the fight. The changes point toward the prospect of deeper U.S. military involvement, although President Barack Obama has said he would not authorize a major commitment of ground combat forces.
Defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said that among other options being considered are providing close-air support for Iraqi ground forces with Apache helicopters or other aircraft, and embedding U.S. military advisers with smaller Iraqi units, thus placing the Americans closer to the front lines.
The U.S. now has about 3,300 troops in Iraq to train and advise Iraqi forces and to protect U.S. facil- ities. There are no U.S. troops in Syria.
The changes Carter cited focus largely on targeting Raqqa, the militants’ declared capital in Syria, and recapturing Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province in western Iraq.
Carter’s testimony drew criticism from Republicans on the committee, primarily because the Defense Department plans do not involve the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a presidential candidate, said Russia, Iran and the Hezbollah militant group all are fighting in Syria to support Assad.
“If I’m Assad, this is a good day for me because the American government has just said, without saying it, that they are not going to fight to replace me,” Graham said. “You have turned Syria over to Russia and Iran. ... This is a sad day for America, and the region will pay hell for this,” Graham said.