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Air power ... A fighter jet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as the ship conducts flight operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve targeting Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Source: AP Source: AP
TWO senior Islamic State leaders have been killed in air strikes in northern Iraq during the past week in what the US says is a severe blow to the jihadist organisation.
US officials said today, as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel approved new orders for several hundred troops to deploy to Iraq to train Iraqi forces, that the air strikes killed a key deputy of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State militants, and one of al-Baghdadi’s military chiefs. A third militant, described as a mid-level leader, was also killed.
According to one official, the names of those killed were Haji Mutazz, al-Baghdadi’s deputy; Abd al (or Abdul) Basit, the military chief; and Radwin Talib.
Word of the deaths came after Hagel signed orders yesterday for the first group of US troops to go to Iraq as part of the administration’s recent decision to deploy 1500 more American forces to the country. The troops are to “advise and train†Iraqi forces.
Also today, President Barack Obama spoke with Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, commending him for his efforts to create an inclusive government and build a united Iraqi front to combat the Islamic State militants.
Obama also reiterated the US commitment to train and assist the Iraqi military, provide weapons and equipment and continue to launch air strikes against the militants.
The top US commander for the mission in Iraq and Syria said the next wave of American troops will begin moving into Iraq in a couple of weeks, and cautioned that it will take at least three years to rebuild the capabilities of the Iraqi military which spectacularly collapsed in the opening days of the Islamic State onslaught.
Air attack ... Militants of Islamic State (IS) stand just before explosion of an air strike on Tilsehir hill near Turkish border in October. Recent strikes in Iraq have reportedly killed senior IS commanders. Source: AFP Source: AFP
Strengthening Iraq
Army Lt. Gen. James Terry, who is leading the US campaign to defeat Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq, said the challenge is to get Iraqi units trained and back into the fight so they can plan operations to regain contested areas such as Mosul.
He said that while there has been progress in halting the militants’ charge across Iraq, “I think what we must do, especially inside of Iraq, is continue to build those (Iraqi) capabilities. I think you’re at least talking a minimum of three years.â€
Significant success ... Army Lt. Gen. James Terry, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon. Source: AFP Source: AFP
Mosul counteroffensive
The Iraqi army wants to launch a counteroffensive to retake Mosul, the largest city in northern Iraq, and the US probably would help. While there have been some concerns that Iraq’s military may not be ready yet for such an ambitious operation, Hagel said last week that the US is working with senior Iraqi leaders on preparations.
“Part of the planning has to be how you generate force to do operations,†Terry told reporters. The question, he said, is “how do you get into a place where you can generate some capability, pull some units back so that you can make them better, and then now start to put those against operations down the road?â€
He declined to say when a Mosul operation might be launched. There have been fewer details and more limited media access to US military operations in Iraq this time than during the eight years of war that ended in 2011. US officials say it’s because the military is there only to advise and assist the sovereign Iraqi government.
There were two air strikes yesterday near Mosul and two near Tal Afar in northern Iraq, according to the US-led Combined Joint Task Force.
There are currently about 1700 US troops in Iraq, and President Barack Obama has authorised up to 3000.
More than 1000 U.S. troops are expected to be deployed in the coming weeks to increase the effort to advise and assist Iraq units at the higher headquarters levels and also to conduct training at several sites around the country.
Front line ... A member of the Kurdish forces stands next to an armoured vehicle destroyed by an improvised explosive device placed by Islamic State militants. Source: AP Source: AP
Iraq ‘gaining strength’
Terry offered an optimistic view of the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government’s progress in working more with the Sunni tribes.
The deep sectarian divide fuelled the advances of the Islamic State militants across Iraq earlier this year as grievances led some to align with the extremists. US. officials have stressed that ongoing coalition assistance hinges in part on whether the Iraqi government becomes more inclusive.
The U.S. and Iraqi governments have proposed creating a national guard program that would arm and pay tribesmen to fight. Terry said that as the Iraqis conduct more combat operations in Sunni strongholds such as Anbar, there will be more opportunities to bring tribal members into the fight.
He said the national guard effort is starting and he is optimistic the Iraqi government will approve legislation needed for the program to move forward.