By M. Bilal Kenasari
WASHINGTON
The U.S. is going to step up its efforts to train and equip Iraqi forces that are fighting against ISIL militants, Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel said on Sunday.
Without giving further details, he said the training started a few days ago.
"It has to be done right; we've got to get the right trainers in there, coalition partners. So yes, we are doing what we can with the resources we have to give some acceleration to that,” the Pentagon chief said.
Earlier this month, U.S. officials said Anbar province and Baghdad are two locations under consideration for the training camps.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey said last week that Iraqi forces have shown signs of improvement “and I think soon we will be able to describe it as a good job,” but he cautioned that future efforts may require additional U.S. support.
The U.S. announced Nov. 7 that it will double its presence in Iraq against ISIL militants by deploying an additional 1,500 troops there. But, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said the troops will not take part in any combat role, echoing a position that President Barack Obama has consistently reiterated.
Previously Dempsey expressed the need to expand the training to include tribes in the region that have been left stranded by ISIL.
"We need to expand the train, advise and assist mission into the al-Anbar province," he said. "But the precondition for that is that the government of Iraq is willing to arm the tribes." Dempsey said.
He also outlined three components of the operations in fighting the terror group. The first is the training of the Iraqi forces and peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government; the second is to reach out to the local tribes and third is to form a national guard.
The current focus has been on the Iraqi security forces.
The U.S. has been assisting Iraqi forces since August when Obama authorized military action and assistance to beat back the militants following their significant gains in the country.
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