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US military leaders discuss extra troops in Iraq — official

By AFP - Jun 24,2016 - Last updated at Jun 24,2016

Iraqi counterterrorism forces advance their positions in Fallujah, Iraq, on Wednesday. Pockets of the Daesh terror group militants continue to hold neighbourhoods along the north and west of the city (AP photo)

WASHINGTON — US military leaders are weighing whether to request additional coalition troops to help local forces fighting the Daesh terror group in Iraq, but no decisions have been made, a military official said Thursday.

“We’re constantly looking to see if we’re right-sized,” said British Army Major General Doug Chalmers, adding that troop levels and additional capabilities formed part of an “ongoing dialogue”. 

The comments from Chalmers, who is deputy commander for support in the US-led coalition against the Daesh group in Iraq and Syria, followed a Washington Post story saying generals want to ask President Barack Obama for additional troops and equipment to help consolidate gains against the extremists.

Chalmers declined to provide specifics but said additional capabilities could come in the form of logistics, equipment, air support and surveillance.

When asked how many additional troops might be requested, he said: “I can guarantee you, it’s not [in] the thousands.” 

The Post said Lieutenant General Sean MacFarland, who heads coalition forces in Iraq, is among a group of military leaders, administration officials and lawmakers who are fed up with “arbitrary” limits on troop numbers.

The last reinforcement of US troops in Iraq came in April, when Pentagon chief Ashton Carter announced the total number of troops would be augmented by 217, bringing the official tally up to 4,087.

The actual number, however, is higher because the Pentagon doesn’t count certain categories of troops.

Obama has been reluctant to deploy additional forces to Iraq — as well as to neighbouring Syria — to combat Daesh because he came to power on the promise of ending the war in Iraq and is wary of a gradual re-escalation. 

Iraqi security forces have made significant gains against Daesh, and are in the process of clearing any remaining Daesh militants from Fallujah. 

Most US troops in Iraq serve in an advisory role with Iraqi partners, though some special operations forces have helped carry out anti-Daesh raids.

 

The American presence in Iraq is a sensitive one for the Iraqis too, especially among Shiite militias wary of US forces. 

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