What Are U.S. Special Forces Doing In The Fight Against The Islamic State.

A peshmerga commander indicates US forces fighting in Kirkuk with video footage on his phone. Photograph: Fazel Hawramy for the Guardian

Carla Babb, VOA: How Involved Are US Special Forces in Fight Against Islamic State?

PENTAGON - As Defense Secretary Ash Carter calls for continued U.S. "boots on the ground" in Iraq and Syria to defeat the Islamic State (IS) group, the public is still trying to figure out the current role of U.S. troops deployed there.

The United States currently has about 3,550 service members in Iraq, with about 2,750 of those aiding Iraqi security forces as trainers, advisers or support staff, according to U.S. Central Command data released to VOA.

Some 100 of these are special forces, according to defense officials. There are also 50 U.S. special operations forces in Syria.

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WNU Editor: One can debate and question what U.S. Special Forces have been doing in the war against the Islamic State for the past year, but all indications right now is that this involvement is about to escalate.