The US military wants to send up to 500 soldiers to Iraq in order to help the country’s forces regain control of the city of Mosul, the last major stronghold of the Islamic State militant group in Iraq.
If approved, this move will effectively increase the number of US troops deployed in the country to 4,900, though it should be noted that Washington insists that these soldiers are not involved in the direct fight with the jihadist group and are simply on an advise-and-assist mission.
Renad Mansour, El-Erian fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center, told Radio Sputnik the US Congress has so far been reluctant to approve sending troops to Iraq, considering that it only withdrew US forces from Iraq a few years ago; this development prompted the White House to circumvent the need for congressional approval by claiming that the troops deployed to Iraq were sent there on an advise-and-assist missions and not to directly engage in combat operations.
Furthermore, it remains unclear exactly how prudent it would be for the Congress to approve this measure considering the fact that the "Obama administration is wrapping up its presidency", he added.
"What is very clear is that the Obama administration wants to increase its offensive in both Mosul, Iraq as well as in Syria to at least showcase an effort to combat the Islamic State [Daesh in Arabic] in both areas before the end of the term," Mansour said.
He added that while being deployed on an advise-and-assist mission somewhat limits the scope of actions the US troops may possibly undertake, they will at least be able to provide the US leadership with a better understanding of what is going on in the area, as well as to help maintain US interests there, especially considering the fact that the forces poised to liberate Mosul are in fact a loose coalition of different groups and factions, including the Iraqi government troops, Kurdish Peshmerga, Shia militias and the like.....http://sptnkne.ws/cnRe
22/9/16
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Related:
If approved, this move will effectively increase the number of US troops deployed in the country to 4,900, though it should be noted that Washington insists that these soldiers are not involved in the direct fight with the jihadist group and are simply on an advise-and-assist mission.
Renad Mansour, El-Erian fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Center, told Radio Sputnik the US Congress has so far been reluctant to approve sending troops to Iraq, considering that it only withdrew US forces from Iraq a few years ago; this development prompted the White House to circumvent the need for congressional approval by claiming that the troops deployed to Iraq were sent there on an advise-and-assist missions and not to directly engage in combat operations.
Furthermore, it remains unclear exactly how prudent it would be for the Congress to approve this measure considering the fact that the "Obama administration is wrapping up its presidency", he added.
"What is very clear is that the Obama administration wants to increase its offensive in both Mosul, Iraq as well as in Syria to at least showcase an effort to combat the Islamic State [Daesh in Arabic] in both areas before the end of the term," Mansour said.
He added that while being deployed on an advise-and-assist mission somewhat limits the scope of actions the US troops may possibly undertake, they will at least be able to provide the US leadership with a better understanding of what is going on in the area, as well as to help maintain US interests there, especially considering the fact that the forces poised to liberate Mosul are in fact a loose coalition of different groups and factions, including the Iraqi government troops, Kurdish Peshmerga, Shia militias and the like.....http://sptnkne.ws/cnRe
22/9/16
-
Related:
Iraq: Turkish troops presence hampers Mosul liberation
Iraq forces launch operation to take ISIS-held town
U.N.: Two-thirds of Iraqi casualties in August were civilians
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Peshmerga Forces in Iraq Battle IS Outside Mosul
KRG leader Barzani: Peshmerga forces will not enter Mosul
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