WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earnest also noted that a decision to approve deploying attack helicopters would only be made if Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider Abadi requests them.
"The president [Obama] has not decided to approve the use of us attack helicopters in an operation like this," Earnest stated during a press briefing.
Earlier on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told members of the US Senate Armed Services Committee that Washington was ready to help the Iraqi Army retake Ramadi by providing them with additional capabilities to fight the Islamic State, including attack helicopters and advisors, if Abadi made such a request.
Up to 10,000 Iraqi security forces are reportedly taking part in the current offensive to retake Ramadi from the Islamic State, also known as Daesh, with the backing from the state-sponsored Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces and Sunni tribal fighters.