The United States is deploying “specialised” troops in Iraq to fight the Islamic State group, including by leading raids against the jihadists over the border in Syria, defence secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday. Speaking to the House Armed Services Committee, the Pentagon chief said that a “specialised expeditionary targeting force” was being deployed in Iraq to help Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces battle ISIS.

“American special operators bring a unique suite of capabilities that make them force multipliers,” Mr Carter said. “Where we find further opportunity to leverage such capability, we are prepared to expand it.”

He said the special forces would also be able to intervene in neighbouring Syria, where Washington has already announced it is sending about 50 special operations troops. “These special operators will over time be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence, and capture ISIL leaders,” he said. “This force will also be in a position to conduct unilateral operations into Syria.” Mr Carter also said he was “prepared to expand” the role of its special operations forces in Syria, as he called on international powers to ramp up efforts to defeat ISIS.

Meanhwhile, Democ-ratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton rejected the idea of sending thousands of US Ground troops to fight ISIS in the Middle East,saying such a move would give the militant group a recruitment tool to boost its ranks.

In her first television interview since the Paris attacks in November, Ms Clinton largely backed President Barack Obam-a’s strategy, pledging to defeat the militant group and engage Russia in the process if she wins the November 2016 election. “In terms of thousands of combat troops, like some on the Republican side are recommending, I think that should be a non-starter,” she said. Ms Clinton said.