WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. is looking at ways to increase its aid to the Iraqi security forces, including help with ways to counter roadside bombs and buildings rigged to explode, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Joint Chiefs chairman, said Thursday.
But he said it's still unclear when the Iraqi troops will be ready to mount an offensive against Islamic State militants that have control of portions of northern and western Iraq. Speaking to reporters in his office, Dempsey said the U.S. will help with "some kind of broad counter-offensive" when Iraq is able to conduct the military assault and any needed reconstruction afterward.
Dempsey spoke after meeting with Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, for more than an hour.
"We're working with Iraq's military and civilian leaders to determine the pace at which we will encourage them and enable them to do a counteroffensive," Dempsey said. "So when the government of Iraq finds itself ready not only to conduct the military operations necessary to recapture their territory, but also to follow it with the humanitarian and reconstruction efforts, then they will, with us, initiate some kind of broad counteroffensive."
In the meantime, he said, the coalition has kept up "a drumbeat, a steady, building pressure" on Islamic State insurgents.