- A Pentagon official confirmed that the elite Delta Force has been deployed in Iraq
- The EFT’s (Expeditionary Targeting Force) mission is to capture or kill top ISIS commanders
- Pentagon declared that the momentum is now in the US’s side in its fight against ISIS
The United States Army’s feared Delta Force has been sent to Iraq “to target, capture or kill top Islamic State (ISIS) operatives; this was confirmed by higly-placed Pentagon sources to CNN.
The Army’s elite and primary counter-terrorism unit has reportedly spent several weeks already in the war-torn Middle East country for pre-covert operation activities like setting up safe houses, establishing intelligence network and coordinating with anti-ISIS militia such as the Permesga Kurdish units.
But while Pentagon and military officials refused to go into details, Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s remarks during a press briefing seemed to confirm so.
“The only thing I’ll say is the EFT (Expeditionary Targeting Force) is in position, it is having an effect and operating, and I expect it to be a very effective part of our acceleration campaign,” Carter was quoted as saying early this week.
Carter said the force will “conduct raids, seize places and people, and free ISIS-held hostages and prisoners” and would cause ISIS “to fear that anywhere, anytime, it may struck.”
A US official, who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity, believes that Carter’s statement reflects that Delta Force has been in operation in Iraq.
The Delta Force will most likely use the same strategy it employed in Syria and Afghanistan: Gather sufficient intelligence before conducting raids on ISIS hideouts, then using the information to swiftly attack other targets.
It was the same strategy used which led to the killing of ISIS commander Abu Sayaff and the capture of his wife in Syria in May last year.
In December, Carter hinted of such operation in Iraq; saying a specialized expeditionary targeting force has been sent to conduct “raids and intelligence gathering missions.” He further noted that the same operation could be expanded further to Syria but declined to give a timeline.
On Monday, the Pentagon official declared that the “momentum is now on our side”; referring to the US’ ongoing fight against the Islamic State in the Middle East.
Watch below a short clip of Delta Force raiding an ISIS compound sometime last year:
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