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Gen John Allen, who co-ordinates the international coalition against the jihadists, says ground troops will be backed by aerial firepower
An Iraqi federal policeman stands guard as his colleague searches a car at a checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq
An Iraqi federal policeman stands guard as his colleague searches a car at a checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq Photo: Karim Kadim/AP
By AFP11:58PM GMT 08 Feb 2015
Iraqi troops will begin a ground offensive "in the weeks ahead" to take back swathes of the country seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), according to the US co-ordinator for the international coalition against the jihadists.
"There will be a major counter offensive on the ground in Iraq," said Gen John Allen in an interview with Jordan's official Petra news agency.
He added that Iraqi ground troops would be backed by coalition firepower.
And Gen Allen dismissed accusations that there has been a delay in the supply of US weapons and training to Iraqi troops on the frontline of the conflict, telling Petra: "The United States is doing all it can to deliver its support as quickly as possible."
The US has been leading an aerial campaign against the jihadists, who have seized territory across Iraq and Syria, imposing a brutal form of Islamic law.
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An Iraqi federal policeman stands guard as his colleague searches a car at a checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq
An Iraqi federal policeman stands guard as his colleague searches a car at a checkpoint in Baghdad, Iraq Photo: Karim Kadim/AP
By AFP11:58PM GMT 08 Feb 2015
Iraqi troops will begin a ground offensive "in the weeks ahead" to take back swathes of the country seized by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), according to the US co-ordinator for the international coalition against the jihadists.
"There will be a major counter offensive on the ground in Iraq," said Gen John Allen in an interview with Jordan's official Petra news agency.
He added that Iraqi ground troops would be backed by coalition firepower.
And Gen Allen dismissed accusations that there has been a delay in the supply of US weapons and training to Iraqi troops on the frontline of the conflict, telling Petra: "The United States is doing all it can to deliver its support as quickly as possible."
The US has been leading an aerial campaign against the jihadists, who have seized territory across Iraq and Syria, imposing a brutal form of Islamic law.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
