The U.S. president said Wednesday he would not flinch from sending U.S. special forces to kill ISIS leaders, as he urged Congress for authority to take the fight to the extremists beyond their current footholds in Syria and Iraq if necessary.
In Sydney, the Iraqi minister said ground forces were not part of his government's plan.
“We have never asked for a ground forces contribution,” he said through an interpreter after meetings with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
“We have established a set of guidelines,” for the international coalition, al-Jafaari told a press conference.
This was to provide air support for Iraqi forces, training and intelligence, he stressed.
“The message that Iraq has submitted to the (United Nations) security council never included a request for ground forces to enter Iraqi territory to conduct such operations.”
However he added: “We are at the beginning of a major war and the situation could be changing.”
The minister noted that Iraqi armed forces were advancing against ISIS and had no shortage of troops.
“There is no doubt that the Iraqi armed forces need aerial support, in addition to intelligence information," he said. "No country has regular armies or ground troops present in Iraq except for providing training and counseling.”
Since August 2014, the U.S. military -- along with allies including Australia -- has been conducting a campaign of air strikes against the jihadist in Iraq and Syria.
With the group losing territory and large numbers of fighters, Obama has now promised to back up the strikes with targeted covert ground-based attacks if necessary.
- Bishop said Australia's role in Iraq was restricted to aerial support, ‘training, advice and intelligence.
Australia was part of the coalition the invaded and occupied Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein from 2003.
Obama’s move signals a ramping up of pressure on ISIS as Baghdad prepares for a major ground offensive, expected within months. It would also provide a firmer legal basis to prosecute a months-old military campaign.
AFP
[alarabiya.net]
12/2/15
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Australia will continue to support the Iraqi government in its fighting against the Islamic State (IS), Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Thursday...
ReplyDelete"Obviously, Australia is making a strong contribution to the campaign against the Daesh (IS) death cult," Abbott said when meetings with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Ja'afari.
"We're doing this not just because we want to help Iraq although we do want to help Iraq we're doing this because the death cult is reaching out to people in Australia."
"We saw a graphic illustration yesterday in Sydney of the way the death cult is inspiring misguided people in this country to want to do absolutely horrific things," he added, referring to the arrest of two men in Sydney on Wednesday for alleged terror plot.
"That's why it's important that the whole world, including Australia, stand with Iraq as you grapple with the terrible problems that you're currently facing.".....................http://www.china.org.cn/world/2015-02/12/content_34809191.htm
12/2/15
Baghdad never asked the United States to send ground troops to fight the Islamic State (IS) militant group on Iraqi soil, the country's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jafaari said Thursday...
ReplyDelete"The message that Iraq has submitted to the (United Nations) Security Council never included a request for ground forces to enter Iraqi territory to conduct such operations," Jafaari said at a press conference in Australia, as quoted by the Iran-based news agency Tasnim.
His remarks followed US President Barack Obama's decision on Wednesday to seeks congressional support for his plan to put US military forces on the ground in Iraq..........http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150212/1018177929.html#ixzz3RY8ZHWvr
12/2/15