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US to Conduct Raids on ISIL Facilities

© Flickr / USASOC News ServiceUS Army Green Berets from the 7th Special Forces Group jump out of a C-130H3 Hercules for Emerald Warrior at Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 22, 2015
US Army Green Berets from the 7th Special Forces Group jump out of a C-130H3 Hercules for Emerald Warrior at Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 22, 2015 - Sputnik International
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US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said that the United States will engage its special operations forces in future raids on ISIL facilities as the opportunities arise.

Black smoke billowing into sky after an airstrike. - Sputnik International
ISIL Oil Fields Targeted in US-Led Airstrikes
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States will engage its special operations forces in future raids on Islamic State (ISIL) facilities as the opportunities arise, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter told the press on Friday.

“When we find opportunities to do things that will effectively prosecute the campaign, we are going to do that…so raids is one of those categories, and I suspect we will have further opportunities in the future,” Carter said.

On Thursday, the Pentagon confirmed that US special forces in coordination with Iraqi and Peshmerga forces carried out a raid and hostage rescue at an ISIL compound in Iraq. The raid resulted in the freeing of 70 hostages, and the first US casualty in the war against ISIL.

Carter clarified that the US participation in the raid does not mean Washington is taking on a combat role in Iraq.

“It represents a continuation of our advise and assist mission,” he stated.

There are currently about 3,300 US troops in Iraq, including a substantial contingent charged with training and capacity building for Iraqi Security Forces and Kurdish Peshmerga.

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