US considering additional 250 military advisors to train rebel groups in Syria
In an effort to advise Syrian rebel groups and boos the impact of operations against the Islamic State (ISIS), Washington is considering sending another 250 special forces troops.
"The purpose of sending the additional US troops is to train the ground local forces to reclaim areas still held by ISIS, including Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq," CNN quoted an unidentified US defense official as saying.
"If approved, these troops would grow the current U.S. Special Operations effort of up to 50 troops authorized to be in Syria. They are there to provide advice and assistance to moderate Syrian forces fighting ISIS," CNN reported the official as saying.
US officials had earlier said that the proposed increase would be “just a few dozen” because of the need to provide additional support forces such as aviation and intelligence.
Earlier this week US President Barack Obama reportedly said in a meeting with top commanders that the military must “keep on putting the pressure” on ISIS to degrade the group’s ability to operate “headquarters” in the Syrian city of Raqqa or Mosul in Iraq.
US may open new firebase in Iraq, says senior military official
The United States military could open up a second forward operating base near Mosul in Iraq if need be, a senior US military official told reporters on Wednesday.
"As Iraqi security forces progress towards isolating Mosul, there may be a situation, in which there is another base that is opened or reopened from years passed that could be used in the same manner as a fire support base," the Joint Vice Director for Operations Rear Admiral Andrew Lewis said in a press briefing.
The US already have a firebase manned by about 200 Marines on the Makhmour front against Islamic State (ISIS), its purpose is to give heavy artillery fire support to Iraqi soldiers, militiamen and Kurdish Peshmerga forces advancing against ISIS.
One US Marine was killed in an ISIS rocket attack on the base last month, an incident which revealed its hitherto disclosed existence.
In an effort to advise Syrian rebel groups and boos the impact of operations against the Islamic State (ISIS), Washington is considering sending another 250 special forces troops.
"The purpose of sending the additional US troops is to train the ground local forces to reclaim areas still held by ISIS, including Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq," CNN quoted an unidentified US defense official as saying.
"If approved, these troops would grow the current U.S. Special Operations effort of up to 50 troops authorized to be in Syria. They are there to provide advice and assistance to moderate Syrian forces fighting ISIS," CNN reported the official as saying.
US officials had earlier said that the proposed increase would be “just a few dozen” because of the need to provide additional support forces such as aviation and intelligence.
Earlier this week US President Barack Obama reportedly said in a meeting with top commanders that the military must “keep on putting the pressure” on ISIS to degrade the group’s ability to operate “headquarters” in the Syrian city of Raqqa or Mosul in Iraq.
US may open new firebase in Iraq, says senior military official
The United States military could open up a second forward operating base near Mosul in Iraq if need be, a senior US military official told reporters on Wednesday.
"As Iraqi security forces progress towards isolating Mosul, there may be a situation, in which there is another base that is opened or reopened from years passed that could be used in the same manner as a fire support base," the Joint Vice Director for Operations Rear Admiral Andrew Lewis said in a press briefing.
The US already have a firebase manned by about 200 Marines on the Makhmour front against Islamic State (ISIS), its purpose is to give heavy artillery fire support to Iraqi soldiers, militiamen and Kurdish Peshmerga forces advancing against ISIS.
One US Marine was killed in an ISIS rocket attack on the base last month, an incident which revealed its hitherto disclosed existence.