Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Joseph Dunford testified on U.S. military strategy to combat ISIS* militants in Iraq and Syria. Secretary Carter announced that the U.S. is expanding its special operations force in Iraq and Syria. The specialized expeditionary targeting force will be sent to Iraq to assist Iraqi and Kurdish forces and will also be positioned to conduct unilateral missions in Syria. Secretary Carter stated that this special force will be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence, and capture ISIS leaders. He also said the U.S. is expanding strikes on ISIS infrastructure and sources of revenue from oil. After the hearing adjourned, Committee Chair Mac Thornberry (R-TX) answered reporters' questions. * The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or DAISH/DAESH in Arabic is a militant group that has called itself the Islamic State.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Joseph Dunford testified on U.S. military strategy to combat ISIS* militants in Iraq and Syria. Secretary Carter announced that the U.S. is expanding its special operations force in Iraq and Syria. The specialized expeditionary targeting force will be sent to Iraq to assist Iraqi and Kurdish forces and will also be positioned to conduct unilateral missions in Syria. Secretary Carter stated that this special force will be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence, and capture ISIS leaders. He also said the U.S. is expanding strikes on ISIS infrastructure and sources of revenue from oil.

After the hearing adjourned, Committee Chair Mac Thornberry (R-TX) answered reporters' questions.

* The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or DAISH/DAESH in Arabic is a militant group that has called itself the Islamic State. close