US Armed Drones Take To The Skies Over Iraq

The US is flying armed drones over Iraq – but only to protect American military advisers who are in the country, the Pentagon has said.

At a news conference, Pentagon press secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby said for over a week the military has been flying manned and unmanned aircraft over Iraq, averaging a few dozen sorties each day, for reconnaissance purposes.

The decision to arm some of the drones follows the deployment to Baghdad of troops who will advise and assist Iraqi counter-terrorism forces.

So far, 180 of 300 US troops, including special forces, promised by President Barack Obama have arrived in the country.

“The reason that some of those aircraft are armed is primarily for force protection reasons, now that we have introduced into the country some military advisers whose objective will be to operate outside the confines of the embassy,” said Rear Admiral Kirby.

Meanwhile, Iraqi forces are locked in an ongoing battle to reclaim several key northern cities which have been seized by the jihadist militant group ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria).

Several people were killed in a fresh airstrike in Baiji, where both sides are struggling for control of the country’s biggest oil refinery.

Meanwhile, Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani – the most influential Shia cleric in Iraq – has called on the country’s leaders to choose a new prime minister within the next four days.

The political intervention could hasten the end of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki’s eight year rule.

Mr al Sistani, who commands unswerving loyalty from many Shias in Iraq and beyond, said political blocs should agree on the next premier, parliament speaker and president before a newly elected legislature meets on Tuesday.

The US and other countries are pushing for a new, inclusive government to be formed as quickly as possible to counter the ISIS insurgency.

US Armed Drones Take To The Skies Over Iraq
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US Armed Drones Take To The Skies Over Iraq