(MENAFN- QNA) US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is acknowledging he may have to consider recommendations to place ground forces in Iraq to help forces there locate targets if, in fact, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff makes that recommendation.
Gen. Martin Dempsey has suggested at least twice that such a recommendation could come, although he has emphasized he has not made that proposal yet, the (CNN) reported.
The general landed in Iraq on Saturday to make a first-hand assessment of the situation.
"If we get to any other variation of recommendations from General Dempsey, we will deal with it, but we are not there yet," Hagel told the CNN on Saturday at the end of a daylong seminar on national security strategy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
Hagel declined to answer whether any of the top leadership of the Khorasan Group have been killed by US airstrikes in Syria, but said the group still poses a serious threat, adding "We know they are planning and plotting attacks against our interests, Europe specifically. So, yes, that is why we target them."
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.