The United States military is considering recommending committing ground troops to join Iraqi forces in an effort to retake Mosul, the nation’s second-largest city, from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria militants.
The Islamic State is strengthening its defense of Mosul and doing so to a significant level could trigger American troop involvement, a U.S. Central Command official told CNN.
U.S. military officials are collecting information on whether U.S. forces will be needed to aid an attack by Iraqi military, which could come in April.
The U.S. has coordinated airstrikes in the Mosul area to cut off Islamic State supply lines. The intention is to isolate the Islamic State when a military offensive begins.
The Centcom official told CNN that U.S. troops might be needed to identify Islamic State targets as the terrorist group bolsters defenses in Mosul.
The official said that the Islamic State may now lack the ability to acquire new territory and defend it.
