The US has allegedly sent 3000 of its marines to Iraq, as part of the process of liberating the Iraqi city of Mosul from the domination of the Islamic State (IS), Sky News Arabia reported on Thursday. An American military expert told Sky News Arabia that there were 3000 American marines deployed in different locations in Iraq, to conduct military attacks against ISIS, and would be the first ground troops sent to Iraq to take part in the US war against terrorism, and hundreds more troops would be sent in the next few weeks. "Most of the American forces are based in the Ain Al Assad base, and the others have been sent to Baghdad to defend the US embassy against ISIS raids," the source said, adding that the troops of the "Liberating Mosul Operation" would include America marines, Kurdish Peshmerga forces and forces of the Iraqi army. The source confirmed that the US condition for sending ground troops was that the Shiite militias should withdraw. In return, the Shiite militias have demanded that the US forces fight only ISIS and maintain a neutral stance between the Shiite militias and the Sunni tribes in Iraq. A few days ago, President Barack Obama asked Congress for permission to carry out military operations against ISIS inside and outside Syria and Iraq. The White House Spokesperson said that the Pentagon had recommended deploying ground troops in the war against the terrorist organization.
