There is news that a major ground offensive against IS(whatever) will begin in Iraq soon.
The point I have heard being asked/discussed quite a bit in the region today is whether or not US troops will be involved on the ground as part of the 'major firepower' support which will be provided by the 'coalition'.
The general impression/reaction I have seen is that the region doesn't need anymore US military involvement, especially boots on the ground in combat - the past experiences of this sort having been so destructive.
A top US official said a ground mission to counter Islamic State in Iraq could begin "within weeks."
In an interview on Sunday with Petra News, as reported by AFP, Gen. John Allen, the US special envoy to counter IS, said that "there will be a major counter offensive on the ground in Iraq."
He emphasized that Iraqi soldiers would take the lead. "In the weeks ahead, when the Iraqi forces begin the ground campaign to take back Iraq, the coalition will provide major firepower associated with that," Allen said. "The United States is doing all it can to deliver its support as quickly as possible."
http://www.jpost.com/...
08:46
Iraq prepares ground offensive against ISIS
“A major counter offensive” on the ground in Iraq against the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) is being prepared, top US envoy John Allen told Jordan’s Petra news agency. “In the weeks ahead, when the Iraqi forces begin the ground campaign to take back Iraq, the coalition will provide major firepower associated with that,” AFP quoted the US coordinator for the international coalition against the jihadists as saying. The Iraqis are expected to lead the offensive. Allen also dismissed accusations that there has been a delay in the supply of US weapons and training to Iraqi troops.
http://rt.com/...
And as a side note: IS(whatever) has now been pushed out of/abandoned much of the area around Kobane and even some areas on the
west shore of the Euphrates.