Iraq says it has not asked for U.S. ground forces

Baghdad has not requested foreign ground forces to battle ISIS militants, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jafaari said Thursday after Barack Obama called for military operations that stop short of a full-scale invasion.

The U.S. president said Wednesday he would not flinch from sending U.S. special forces to kill ISIS leaders, as he urged Congress for authority to take the fight to the extremists beyond their current footholds in Syria and Iraq if necessary.

In Sydney, the Iraqi minister said ground forces were not part of his government's plan.

“We have never asked for a ground forces contribution,” he said through an interpreter after meetings with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

“We have established a set of guidelines,” for the international coalition, al-Jafaari told a press conference.

This was to provide air support for Iraqi forces, training and intelligence, he stressed.

“The message that Iraq has submitted to the (United Nations) security council never included a request for ground forces to enter Iraqi territory to conduct such operations.”

However he added: “We are at the beginning of a major war and the situation could be changing.”

The minister noted that Iraqi armed forces were advancing against ISIS and had no shortage of troops.

“There is no doubt that the Iraqi armed forces need aerial support, in addition to intelligence information," he said. "No country has regular armies or ground troops present in Iraq except for providing training and counseling.”

Since August 2014, the U.S. military -- along with allies including Australia -- has been conducting a campaign of air strikes against the jihadist in Iraq and Syria.

With the group losing territory and large numbers of fighters, Obama has now promised to back up the strikes with targeted covert ground-based attacks if necessary.

Bishop said Australia's role in Iraq was restricted to aerial support, ‘training, advice and intelligence.

“We have not sought to expand our role to include combat troops,” she said.

Australia was part of the coalition the invaded and occupied Iraq to oust Saddam Hussein from 2003.

Obama’s move signals a ramping up of pressure on ISIS as Baghdad prepares for a major ground offensive, expected within months. It would also provide a firmer legal basis to prosecute a months-old military campaign.