Washington, June 20 (RHC)-- U.S. President Barack Obama says that Washington will send up to 300 military advisers to Iraq, but without sending in ground troops. In a White House announcement on Thursday, the U.S. president said: "Armed forces will not be returning to combat in Iraq."
According to the president, Washington will take “targeted” and precise military action against the militants from the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Obama said: “We do not have the ability to simply solve this problem by sending in tens of thousands of troops and committing the kinds of blood and treasure that has already been expended in Iraq.”
The comments followed a meeting between Obama and his national security team including Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Chief Chuck Hagel. The U.S. president also stressed on diplomatic efforts with Iraq’s neighbors to help contain the spread of terrorists from the militant group also known as the ISIL.
Iraq is struggling with the ISIL militants that took control of some key Iraqi cities. They have vowed to continue their offensive towards the capital Baghdad.
A number of high-ranking Democratic officials urged President Barack Obama to consider military strikes against the al-Qaeda-linked militants. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein said on Tuesday that airstrikes could “absolutely” be a facet of that direct action.
