US Mitigates Risk From Islamic State Attacks on US Advisors in Iraq

The US military has reduced risks from Islamic State attacks on its advisors in Iraq, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Elissa Slotkin told reporters during a conference call on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Slotkin, however, explained site surveys on bases and training facilities in Iraq mean that “we could sufficiently mitigate the risk.”

“There is always a risk whenever we are in Iraq that we could be hit with indirect fire as we have in the past, that we could be attacked,” Slotkin said. “[T]hat is something we consider wherever we go in Iraq.”

On Wednesday, the White House announced the United States would add an additional 450 military advisors to the 3,100 non-combat troops in Iraq.

The new advisors will train local Sunni recruits from the Anbar province for service in the Iraqi Army to fight against the Islamic State.

US officials said including Sunnis into the predominantly Shia Iraqi Army will alleviate local concerns in Anbar over sectarian bloodletting. Such an approach also aims to sustain the Iraqi government’s presence once areas are cleared of the Islamic State.

US Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, run to a building after detonating explosives to open a gate during a mission in Ramadi in Anbar province, Iraq

© AP Photo / Jim MacMillan, File