US May Send Military Advisors to Syria - Former Commander Petraeus

Former US Military Commander David Petraeus spoke to the Armed Services Committee about potential changes to US policy in the Middle East to defeat the Islamic State and otherwise advance US interests in the region.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States might transfer military advisors to Syria in order to more effectively counter the Islamic State as well as Syrian President Bashar Assad, former US Military Commander David Petraeus said on Tuesday.

"We should not be closed to the possibility of some advisors or support elements… the same way we have them on the ground in Iraq," Petraeus told the US Senate Armed Services Committee.

On Tuesday, Petraeus spoke to the Armed Services Committee about potential changes to US policy in the Middle East to defeat the Islamic State and otherwise advance US interests in the region.

Taking out Assad, Petraeus argued, will not require 165,000 troops, "but rather advisors in an ‘enclave’ similar to that of those on the ground in Iraq."

However, the former commander noted he was concerned about Islamic State advances in Iraq, and suggested providing greater military support to Iraqi and allied forces in addition to sending military advisors.

"In my judgment, increased support for the Iraqi security forces, Sunni tribal forces and Kurdish Peshmerga is needed, including embedding US advisor elements down to the brigade headquarters level of those Iraqi forces fighting ISIS [Islamic State]," Petraeus said.

Joint tactical air controls with certain Iraqi units, he added, in order to coordinate airstrikes for those units and advance the fight against the Islamic State.

On Tuesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the United States must firmly assess the nature of cooperation between Russia and Syria, if it truly hopes to defeat the Islamic State.

Petraeus served as the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) from October 31, 2008- June 30, 2010.