WASHINGTON — The Army’s top officer warned Friday that it will become increasingly difficult to target and launch precision airstrikes against Islamic State terrorists hiding among the Iraqi population.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno told reporters that so far the targets that American warplanes and drones have hit in Iraq have largely been out in the open and were “clearly identifiable.”
Now, he said, the militant fighters are starting to infiltrate the population, and there are reports that they are using children and others as shields.
Odierno, a veteran of several years in command in Iraq, said that for the U.S. to maintain the precision of the strikes, Iraqi or other ground troops might be needed to better direct the strikes.
Odierno said the U.S. will determine whether more ground support is needed. U.S. leaders have ruled out fighting a ground war in Iraq, but they’ve left the door open for specialized troops to embed with and advise Iraqi units.
