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1st LD Writethru: Britain not to send ground troops to Iraq: British defense chief

Xinhua, December 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said here on Friday Britain would not send ground troops to Iraq, adding that the Iraqi leadership had made clear to him that "Western boots on the ground" were not wanted in Iraq.

"We're not proposing to send combat troops back into Iraq or into Syria," said Fallon here in a joint press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, adding that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had told him explicitly that the Iraqis did not want British troops on the ground there.

"With great respect, they (also) don't want to see American troops there," said Fallon. "They realize that security has to be achieved in areas that have been liberated from ISIL-Daesh by home-grown forces that can enjoy the support and confidence of the Sunni areas."

ISIL was the acronym for the extremist group the Islamic State, which is currently holding vast territories in both Iraq and Syria. Daesh is the Arabic acronym for the group.

Britain's House of Commons on Dec. 2 voted to support a government motion on extending British airstrikes against the IS in Syria. Endit