Tri-Service
US Indicates Shift In Campaign Against Islamic State
US forces have a new triple focus in the battle against Islamic State.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has told the Senate Armed Services Committee that from now on Operation Inherent Resolve will revolve around three Rs: Raqqa, Ramadi and raids.
Mr Carter was giving evidence at a hearing on American operations in the Middle East and admitted that a change had been needed.
Islamic State’s advance through Iraq may well have been contained, but in their heartlands they’re not exactly on the back foot.
The focus on Raqqa and Ramadi would involve assassination strikes against “high value targets”, and even ground operations.
He wouldn’t be drawn on how or when US forces might go in on the ground without assistance from rebels, Kurdish or Iraqi government forces.
He also hinted at an expanded bombing campaign including, he said, "additional US and coalition aircraft, to target ISIL with a higher and heavier rate of strikes."
RAF planes flying from Cyprus and drones based in Kuwait are part of that coalition.
US Special Forces are already involved in ground operations against Islamic State: the death last week of Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler in a raid on an IS jail in northern Iraq underlining how dangerous such missions can be.
There’s no sign though of a significantly enhanced regular US Army deployment to support this expansion in raids.
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