As the Iraqi military continues to struggle against the threat of Sunni militants marching on the capital, American drones and jets have begun operations in the country, but have not been authorized to engage with insurgent fighters. NBC’s Richard Engel has more form Baghdad.
Fights broke out across Iraq On June 18, 2014. Outside Baghdad, in the city of Mosul and in the city of Tikrit were in chaos as the Iraqi military is trying to launch something of a counter- offensive against militants from the Al Qaeda offshoot ISIS.
The Iraqi military has limited resources and is carrying out helicopter airstrikes, but it does not have very many helicopters. American military advisers are on the ground working with the Iraqi military trying to give them tactical advice. In order to protect the American troops, the Pentagon has confirmed American jets and American drones, will be armed to fly missions over Iraq as a weapon of last resort, to protect the American Advisers.
The Iraqi military have not been authorized to go to war, but it is what the Iraqi government would like. As the Iraqi government has proven unable to drive ISIS out of its strongholds in Northern and Western Iraq, they would like to see the drones and the jets put to use, not just to protect American advisers, but to help drive out ISIS militants.
US drones and jets have begun operations
As the Iraqi military continues to struggle against the threat of Sunni militants marching on the capital, American drones and jets have begun operations in the country, but have not been authorized to engage with insurgent fighters. NBC’s Richard Engel has more form Baghdad.In Iraq there is also political chaos and confrontation.
Whether the torn fabric of Iraq can be knit back together or not is discussed with Sar-hang Hama-saeed, the Senior Program Officer at the United States Institute of Peace.