WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says it’s moving to increase the number of American troops in Iraq.
The announcement came as defense officials told reporters that U.S. forces have killed the Islamic State’s finance minister. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said, “We are systematically eliminating” the group’s cabinet.
Carter said several key members of the group were eliminated this week. According to a senior U.S. official the finance minister was killed along with two associates in a U.S. raid in Syria. He was known by several names, including Haji Iman. The official said a separate U.S. airstrike in the Iraqi city of Mosul killed another top Islamic State leader.
The attacks are part of a string of strikes targeting the group’s leadership, even as it loses territory in Iraq and Syria.
As for the increased U.S. troop levels in Iraq, Gen. Joseph Dunford — who chairs the Joint Chiefs of Staff — says recommendations on ways to increase U.S. support for Iraq’s ground fight will be discussed soon with President Barack Obama. He says he and the defense secretary agree that the coming weeks will see an increase in U.S. forces in Iraq — but that the decision hasn’t been made. He didn’t say how big that increase might be.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.