Iraq: We Don't Need US Ground Operations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The Iraqi government said Wednesday it didn't ask for — and doesn't need — the "direct action on the ground" promised by the Pentagon.
The revelation came a day after Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said the US may carry out more unilateral ground raids — like last week's rescue operation to free hostages — in Iraq to target ISIL militants.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's spokesman told NBC News that any military involvement in the country must be cleared through the Iraqi government just as US-led airstrikes are.
"This is an Iraqi affair and the government did not ask the US Department of Defense to be involved in direct operations," spokesman Sa'ad al-Hadithi told NBC News. "We have enough soldiers on the ground."
He acknowledged the importance of US assistance in Iraq, saying that his country needs American help "arming and training out forces."
The US currently has around 3,300 troops in Iraq to train and advise Iraqi forces and protect US facilities.
The Pentagon has said that the recent raid was in response to a request from the Kurdish regional government — a semi-autonomous body that governs in northern Iraq — which had learned the hostages faced imminent execution.
White House deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said Tuesday the administration has "no intention of long-term ground combat," adding that US forces will continue to robustly train, advise and assist.
Hadithi's response to the prospect of US direct involvement comes amid mounting pressure from Iraq's ruling coalition on the prime minister to request Russian airstrikes against ISIL.
Moscow's move to mount strikes against ISIL in Syria has put the US and Russia at odds.
