U.S. Defense Secretary: The U.S. War Against The Islamic State Will Intensify. Recommends U.S. Ground Forces To Be Deployed

United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter (L) and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman USMC General Joseph Dunford, Jr. (R) chat before testifying at a Senate Armed Forces Committee hearing on 'United States Strategy in the Middle East' in Washington October 27, 2015. REUTERS/GARY CAMERON

NBC News: Sec. Carter: U.S. to Begin 'Direct Action on the Ground' in Iraq, Syria

Defense Secretary Ash Carter today revealed that the U.S. will openly begin "direct action on the ground" against ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria.

In his testimony before the Senate Armed Services committee on Tuesday, Carter said "we won't hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against ISIL...or conducting such mission directly, whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground."

Cater pointed to last week's rescue operation with Kurdish forces in northern Iraq to free hostages held by ISIS.

WNU Editor: U.S. Defense Secretary Carter just cannot say that U.S. troops will engage in battle against the Islamic State .... to do so would break a promise that President Obama had made that U.S. combat troops would not return to Iraq. Unfortunately .... this is what this is all about. U.S. troops will be on the front lines, and they will engage in combat.

More News On U.S. Defense Secretary Carter Remarks That The U.S. War Against The Islamic State Will Intensify

Top U.S. general says could recommend locating U.S. troops with Iraqis -- Reuters
Carter: More Airstrikes, Other Shifts Coming Against IS -- AP
US Shifting Anti-ISIS Strategy to 'Gather Battlefield Momentum,' DoD Secretary Ash Carter Says -- ABC News
Ash Carter: Fight against ISIS is intensifying -- CBS
Obama weighs moving U.S. troops closer to front lines in Syria, Iraq -- Washington Post
Pentagon chief unveils new plan for ISIS fight -- The Hill
Obama weighs sending US troops near front lines in ISIS fight, plans more airstrikes -- FOX News
Pentagon chief: U.S. to increase air, ground raids on Islamic State -- UPI
Obama weighing Pentagon suggestions for more ground troops in Iraq and Syria -- Washington Times
U.S. intensifying fight against Islamic State militants: Pentagon chief -- Reuters
Obama considers moving US forces deeper into Syria, Iraq – reports -- RT
Iraq War Update: US Military Considering Ground Combat Options Against Islamic State -- IBTimes