U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has disclosed a new set of initiatives to combat the ISIS.
Carter recently spoke to troops from the 101st Airborne Division who are scheduled to deploy to Iraq in the near future. "The specialized expeditionary targeting force I announced in December is now in place and is preparing to work with the Iraqis to begin going after ISIL's fighters and commanders," Carter said at Fort Campbell, Ky., announcing the arrival of a special commando force in Iraq, reported Military.com.
Seeking to work on intelligence and pressurize the enemy, Carter had announced in December that the U.S. would send in approximately 200 special operations forces to Iraq.
"These operators have helped focus the efforts of the local, capable forces against key ISIL vulnerabilities, including their lines of communication," Carter added, Reuters reported.
Carter said that he would be meeting representatives from France, Australia, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the U.K. since each of these nations "has a significant stake in completing the destruction of this evil organization, and we must include all of the capabilities they can bring to the field," he said, according to CBS News. He added that at the meeting scheduled to be held in Paris next week, he would be urging leaders from the E.U. nations to incorporate more measures to fight the ISIS.
Carter addressed approximately 500 troops from the 101st Airborne headquarters group who will deploy at the end of February. His address followed a day after President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in which Obama had said that the the U.S. must not "Americanize" the conflicts, reported The Times of India. You can read more on Obama's address here and here.
"President Obama is committed to doing what it takes - as opportunities arise, as we see what works, and as the enemy adapts - until ISIL is delivered a lasting defeat," Carter said to the troops.
